February 9, 2022

Vampire Moths and Bizzare Looper

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By: Michael Fox

Vampire Moth Calyptra minuticornis

I had never heard of Vampire Moths before I found this cute caterpillar feeding on Tape Vine Stephania japonica. The Vampire Moth Calyptra minuticornis pierce fruit to suck the juice, and this species along with other moths in the genus Calyptra are known as the Vampire moths because they have been observed to pierce the skin of animals such as buffalo, zebu and tapir to suck blood.

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Wattle Bizarre Looper Eucyclodes pieroides

The rainy weather has kicked 2022 off to amazing start with ten new species added to Flora and Fauna of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. My daughter Anthea found this truly bizarre Wattle Bizarre Looper Eucyclodes pieroides feeding on fruit of the Pink Euodia Melicope ruba.

Acacia Golden Green Leaf Beetle Calomela juncta

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This attractive Acacia Golden Green Leaf Beetle Calomela juncta fell off a Brisbane Wattle Acacia fimbriata when I tried to photograph. It is very positive to find new insect species in the Reserve because the more insects the more insect eating birds like the Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus.

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Yellow Shouldered Ladybird Apolinus lividigaster

A new species of Ladybeetle found in the Reserve Yellow Shouldered Ladybird Apolinus lividigaster found in the Reserve ready to protect our gardens from aphids.

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Yellow Migrant Catopsilia gorgophone

A Yellow Migrant Catopsilia gorgophone is a particularly special find which brings our count of butterfly species in the Reserve to fifty one.

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Asian Tramp Snail Bradybaena similaris

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I was excited when I found a new snail. However, unfortunately, the Asian Tramp Snail Bradybaena similaris is not a native but rather a serious pest in nurseries, market gardens and vineyards.

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Wingless Grasshopper Phaulacridium vittatum

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A miss-named Wingless Grasshopper Phaulacridium vittatum. The adult grasshopper has full sized wings so this, with its very small wings, is most probably a nymph.

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Wattle Pig Weevil Leptopius sp.

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Not the most attractive of our insects, the Wattle Pig Weevil Leptopius sp. is still part of the wildlife diversity in the Reserve. These Weevils feed on Acacia species.

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Native Yam Dioscorea transversa

The rain also bought out several plants of Native Yam Dioscorea transversa. Another exciting discovery which brings the number of native plants found in the Reserve to 285 species or 20% of all native plant species in the whole of the United Kingdom.

Want learn more about the species in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve visit our Flora and Fauna research files.

 

April 28, 2019

ACYA Weedbusters at work

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Wildlife of Mt Gravatt Reserve | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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By: Michael Fox

Guinea Grass gone - 27 April 2019

Clearing Guinea Grass                                                             Weeds busted

Red Natel Grass - 27 April 2019

Red Natal Grass Busted

I welcomed the Australia China Youth Association (ACYA) team yesterday to weed the  2015/16 National Tree Day planting.

The Small Bird Planting is thriving, however, the Guinea Grass Megathyrsus maximus and Red Natal Grass Melinis repens that covered the site before restoration are still regrowing from seed. By clearing the weed grasses before a new crop of seed sets we will break the cycle of infestation.

The team got stuck right in bagging the seed heads for removal off site before they removed the grasses.

Common Crow - Euploea core - male sex brand - 27 April 2019

Common Crow sex brand

 

 

The ACYA team are always interested in finding native wildlife when they come to Bushcare.

The first find was a handsome male Common Crow Euploea core butterfly. I explained that some male butterflies have sex brands they use to store pheromones impress the girls.

Blue Tiger - claws 1 - 6 Feb 2015 cropped

Blue Tiger butterfly claws

 

Common Crow butterflies use their claws to scratch the leaves on Parsonsia vines. Butterflies taste with their feed to check they have the correct species of plant and males store alkaloids from the leaves to help with breeding.

Imperial Hairstreak - Jalmenus evagoras - butterflies - 27 April 2019

Imperial Hairstreak butterflies

 

 

 

 

We also found lots of Imperial Hairstreak Jalmenus evagoras butterflies at the 2018 National Tree Day planting site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We found Imperial Hairstreak chrysalis on the Brisbane Fringed Wattle Acacia fimbriata planted in July 2018. The caterpillars and chrysalis are protected by native Small Meat Ants in return for sugary extrusions.

 

 

Variable Ladybird Beetle - Coelophora inaequalis - 27 April 2019

Variable Ladybird Beetle

 

 

 

A number of Variable Ladybird Beetles Coelophora inaequalis were found by Wento.

It is very encouraging to find bugs visiting the replanted habitat. The more insects the more insect eating small birds will return.

 

 

 

 

Stingless Native Bee - Tetragonula sp. - hive - 27 April 2019

Stingless Native Bee hive

 

 

To finish the morning I showed the team a Stingless Native Bee hive in an old log.

 

 

 

Stingless Native Bee - Tetragonula sp. - 27 April 2019

Stingless Native Bee

 

 

 

 

They had heard about our Stingless Native Bees but they were surprised to see how small they are: small than a house fly.

While these tiny bees are stingless they have very powerful jaws.

Team - 27 April 2019

ACYA team

 

 

 

Thank you team. It is always a pleasure to welcome you to Bushcare, hear your stories and share my knowledge.

Help build on our success. Register for 2019 National Tree Day.

 

June 30, 2015

Walking in Winter – Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushwalks, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Wildlife of Mt Gravatt Reserve | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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Morning Mist - 30 June 2015

Winter sun through the mist

By: Michael Fox

Winter is a great time to walk in the bush in Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. Misty mornings, bright sunny days and no summer heat.

The light in winter is special – softer. Winter light helps you see and photograph the bush in different ways.

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Acacia leiocalyx - flower - Jun 07

Early Black Wattle Acacia leiocalyx

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Explore the mountain tracks and discover the winter flowers.

Early Black Wattle Acacia leiocalyx is just past its best.

Also called Lamb’s Tail Wattle, it is a key food supply for caterpillars of Imperial Hairstreak butterflies – Jalmenus evagoras. Look for the caterpillars around February-March.

Learn to identify Early Black Wattle with the winter flowers so you can find the trees in summer. The red colour and triangular shape of the stems are key identifiers.

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Acacia fimbriata - flower - 5 Aug 10

Brisbane Fringed Wattle Acacia fimbriata

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Brisbane Fringed Wattle Acacia fimbriata is now coming into flower.

With its bright yellow ball shaped flowers this is one of the most attractive trees in the forest.

Once the Acacia fimbriata produces seeds it is very popular with the spectacular King Parrots Alisterus scapularis.

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Blackthorn Bursaria spinosa - 12 June 2015

Blackthorn Bursaria spinosa

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Blackthorn Bursaria spinosa flowers all year.

As the name suggests Blackthorn, with its spiky habit, is useful for Security Planting keeping people out of bushland areas and protecting small forest birds from larger more aggressive birds.

Blackthorn nectar is also popular with butterflies like the Blue Tiger Tirumala hamata.

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Black She-oak Allocasuarina littoralis is one of the most interesting trees flowering at the moment. In March the male Black She-oaks started producing their flowers showing up as the russet brown tips with the trees glowing in direct winter sunlight. Female Black She-oaks only started to produce their distinctive red flowers in June.

Allocasuarina male female

…………. Black She-oak Allocasuarina littoralis – (left) male (right) female