By: Michael Fox
Most people I talk to want less Crows and more Fairy-wrens in their gardens and schoolyards.
A key factor in bringing these beautiful birds back to our urban habitat increasing the number and diversity of insects. So it is very encouraging to find increasing number of different species in areas restored with our National Tree Day events.
In the last week we added four new insect and spider species to our research: Flora and Fauna of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve.
The first addition was found by Griffith Environment Student and Fox Gully Bushcare volunteer: Fumihiko Suzuki. Mi Fu discovered a handsome Acacia Leaf Beetle Dicranosterna immaculata feeding on a Brisbane Wattle Acacia fimbriata.
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The Queensland Pathways State College team joined us for Bushcare clearing Guinea Grass Megathyrsus maximus var. maximus and exploring local wildlife.
The team discovered three species for our research, starting with a very cute Hairy Crab Spider Sidymella hirsuta.
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Cockroaches are not normally a popular insect. However, worldwide 99% of cockroaches live in bushland and do not invade our homes. Our Australian bush cockroaches perform valuable services recycling leaf litter using gut enzymes that break down tough plant cellulose.
So discovering Oval Woodland Cockroach Platyzosteria kellyi working hard improving our bushland habitat is very exciting.
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The Yellow Soldier Beetle Chauliognathus flavipennis is another interesting find which is typically found in south-east Queensland.
Share your sighting using iNaturalist app. Your sightings will be mapped in Atlas of Living Australia.
Mount Gravatt Environment Group 