BunyipCo

Sunday, 7 January 2024

Recent Arrivals!

The rains associated with Cyclone Jasper have prompted many insects to emerge and complete their life cycles. Here are just a few. All from the rainforest in Kuranda, far north Queensland.

Remember to click on the image to enlarge.

The Large Forest Pyrgomorph, Desmoptera truncatipennis Sjostedt, male

The Large Forest Pyrgomorph, Desmoptera truncatipennis Sjostedt, female

The Small Snub-nosed Katydid, Chloracantha lampra Hebard, male.

This katydid is a relatively common member of the rainforest understorey.

Scarab beetles are often very metallic. They are favourites of beetle collectors.

The White-footed Katydid, Leucopodoptera eumundii Rentz and Webber, male.

This katydid has a fairly extensive geographic range, extending from Cooktown to Bartle Frere and the Atherton Tablelands.

There are scores of weevil species. This two-spotted little gem is a first time sighting.

The "elephant weevil" is very large for a weevil. It is extremely hard-bodied and a challenge to beetle collectors to pin.

Cicadas usually emerge from their subterranean life style at night and commence their brief time as adults. They emerge after dark for several reasons: the "cover" of darkness protects them from birds, lizards and other predators; the increased humidity after dark aids in successfully emerging from the tight quarters of the larval skin; usually winds decrease after dark and this further aids the cicada so that the delicate wings will not get twisted and rumpled if blown in the wind. After emergence it will take several hours for the adult cicada to harden so it can fly off at dawn.

The Ginger Katydid, Xingbaoia karakara Rentz, female. This is a nocturnal predatory katydid common in rainforests over a rather narrow geographic range from Cape Tribulation to Innisfail and the Atherton Tablelands. The common name relates the association the species has with native gingers. Females oviposit (lay their eggs) in the leaf axils of native ginger plants. The generic name commemorates an honour to a Chinese colleague, Dr Xing-bao Jin and the specific name is derived from an aboriginal word for "gold", an allusion to the discovery of such a unique rainforest insect.

Kuranda Caedicia, Caedicia kuranda Rentz, Su, Ueshima, male. One of the many species in the large genus Caedicia.

Kuranda Speckled Katydid, Diastella kuranda Rentz, Su, Ueshima, female. The spot is distinctive of this and the other two species in the genus. The spot is individually variable in size and colour.

Night is often a good time to photograph dragonflies.

The Kuranda Spotted Katydid, Ephippitytha kuranda Rentz, Su, Ueshima, female. This is a fairly common species in northern rainforests. It has a relative that lives in the interior of the continent in much more arid habitats.

Lipararchis tranquillalis Crambidae, a lovely moth

Speiredonia mutabilis Noctuidae, a not-so-common visitor to the light sheet.

Jasper Aftermath

Calm conditions and beautiful weather has returned to north Queensland. However, the aftermath of Cyclone Jasper has left many people without their homes, cars and precious possessions. Several important roads remain closed and others are in precarious condition.

Remember to click on the image to enlarge.

Piles of branches and othere rubble await pick-up from the Mareeba Shire Council.

The creek, although still brown with silt, has receded to its normal level.

The Cattana tip is a sad sight with hundreds of white goods--washing machines, dryers, stoves and computers, TV's and sofas discarded.

The insurance adjusters are in heavy demand. Future premiums will probably be unaffordable.

Let's hope life can get back to "normal" before too long.

Saturday, 23 December 2023

Cyclone Jasper

Severe Tropical Cyclone Jasper was a powerful and long-lived tropical cyclone that impacted northern Queensland with torrential rainfall. The third disturbance of the 2023–24 South Pacific cyclone season and the first named storm and severe tropical cyclone of the 2023–24 Australian region cyclone season, Jasper originated from an area of low pressure located in the South Pacific Ocean. The system was initially slow to develop while tracking southwestwards through the South Pacific Ocean in Fiji's area of responsibility but began to consolidate the following day. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) upgraded the system to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale and name it Jasper. The storm quickly intensified and became a Category 4 tropical cyclone on 7 December; the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimated sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph). Jasper soon entered an environment of increasing wind shear, causing the system to steadily weaken. Its low-level circulation centre became totally exposed and it maintained a poorly defined convective structure as it approached northern Queensland. Jasper later reintensified, and on 13 December, made landfall as a Category 2 tropical cyclone off the eastern coast of the Cape York Peninsula near Wujal Wujal. Jasper then weakened into a ex-tropical low and remained traceable overland as it moved southeast, and was last noted on 21 December.
Throughout Jasper's existence, moderate to locally intense rainfall accompanied the system; the storm dropped very heavy rainfall, peaking at 2,252 mm (88.7 in) at Bairds near the Daintree River. If verified, this would make Jasper the wettest tropical cyclone to impact Australia on record. Many locals used personal watercraft to extract people who were trapped on their roofs within the coastal suburbs. Some flights were canceled at the Cairns Airport. One man died in Far North Queensland due to flooding caused by Jasper and two more are missing.

We sustained no important damage at our place but just next door there was a disaster. The property is closer to the creek and lower than we sit.

Our creek was the scene of devastation. This was not cause by wind but by rain. We had almost 2m of rain from Wednesday to Sunday. Anything that could be washed away was.

The water went right up to the top of the stairs in this place.

The water from the creek completely covered these two cars and tipped the hot water heater. In addition we were without power from Wednesday to Sunday.

After a week the cassowaries emerged, no worse for wear. Mr Cassowary had some damage to his casque but that was about it. He seemed a bit wan and tired. But he and his three chicks survived.

This chick seems quite healthy despite its ordeal. Where the cassowaries spent the week of rain and wind is a mystery but Mr Cassowary(who is over 45 yrs old) has had a lot of experience and knows what to do.

Monday, 20 November 2023

Mass Emergence: Termites

On the morning of 20 November 2023 the small dome of Termes sp. located near the Brush Turkey mound erupted for about a half hour with thousands of alate (winged) reproductive termites taking flight. This was noted before in this Blog on 20 September 2010 from the same mound. See: https://bunyipco.blogspot.com/search?q=Termes The weather was cloudy and it has not rained for weeks. So just what triggered the emergence is hard to say. If it rains later in the day, then maybe the termites are good weather forecasters.

Click on the photo to enlarge

Close examination will reveal that the mound is completely covered with termites that are about to fly off.

One of the flying termites.

Having mated, females select a suitable site for a new nest and commence housekeeping. Only an extremely small percentage of individuals are successful in establishing a new nest. Birds, lizards, insects and other wildlife feast on the insects and other environmental factors limit successful establishment of a nest.

Tuesday, 14 November 2023

Cassowary update 2

The young cassowaries are growing nicely despite the extraordinary dry conditions that we have at present. It seems that there are palm fruits and other rainforest trees dropping fruits and flowers that they eat to sustain them. The stream is still running so there is no thirst problem. Hopefully the chicks are beyond the desires of the local goannas. Wild pigs might be a problem should they encounter the sleeping birds at night.

Remember to click on the image to enlarge

Mr Cassowary and the three chicks.

Mrs Cassowary presents no threat to the chicks but the male bird gives way when she appears. He moves well away and waits until she leaves. The chicks wander around under her feet and she makes no threatening moves.

Cattana Wetlands Night Walk 11 November 2023

Cattana Wetlands is a developing coastal rainforest north of Cairns, Queensland. It was once a sugarcane field but the Cattana family gifted the area to the Cairns Regional Council for natural replanting. Ponds were already present at the site and have been naturally populated by aquatic plants, fish, insects AND the odd crocodile. Replanting of thousands of trees and shrubs has been undertaken largely by the volunteers of the Friends of the Cairns Botanic Gardens https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/experience-cairns/botanic-gardens.

It is remarkable to see the growth of trees and shrubs over a ten year period. The Friends have had a number of Night Walks and Moth Nights to stimulate interest. In addition, Bird Walks, Bat Nights and Fish Surveys have proved popular. An astronomical night is planned as some of the open areas and lack of ambient light seem perfect for star gazers. As with many tropical activities, the weather can be a problem.

Remember to click on the photos to enlarge