Flies as Pollinators

 

This Green Blow fly (Lucilia cuprina), is feeding on the flower of Garlic Chives. Flies are second only to bees when it comes to pollination and are the main pollinators of Cacao trees from which chocolate is made. Unlike honeybees, flies don’t need to carry pollen and nectar back to a hive, they visit flowers to sip on the nectar themselves.

1/500 - f/7.1 - ISO200 - macro

Brown Rat, Rattus norvegicus - Video

 

Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus), searching for food.

The Brown Rat, also known as the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, is a widespread species of common rat. One of the largest muroids, it is a brown or grey rodent with a head and body length of up to 28 cm long, and a tail slightly shorter than that.

Golden-tailed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis spp.)

 

Golden-tailed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis spp.)

The Golden-tailed Spiny Ant is a fascinating insect native to Southeast Asia. It is part of the ant family, Formicidae, and is known for its striking appearance and unique features.

This ant species gets its name from the golden-colored tip of its abdomen, which is highly visible and distinguishes it from other ant species. The ant's body is covered in dense spines, giving it a spiky and intimidating appearance.

Measuring around 7-12 millimeters in length, the Golden-tailed Spiny Ant is relatively small compared to other ant species. It has a slender and elongated body with a distinctive narrowing waist, known as the petiole. The ant's head is large and equipped with powerful mandibles for both feeding and defense.

Colony life is a key aspect of the Golden-tailed Spiny Ant's behavior. These ants are social insects and live in organized communities led by a queen. They construct intricate subterranean nests consisting of interconnected chambers, tunnels, and galleries. This species prefers nesting in soil or rotten wood, providing them with protection and an ideal environment for raising their young.

The Golden-tailed Spiny Ant is an omnivorous species, feeding on a variety of food sources. Their diet includes small insects, nectar, plant sap, and even honeydew produced by aphids. They are known to be highly efficient predators and have been observed working together as a team to capture larger prey.

Despite its intimidating appearance, the Golden-tailed Spiny Ant is generally not aggressive towards humans unless provoked. However, when threatened, it can deliver a painful sting using its venom-filled stinger. The venom is not dangerous to humans, but it can cause discomfort and a localized reaction.

In nature, these ants play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. They contribute to the decomposition of organic matter, controlling populations of small insects, and aiding in the dispersal of plant seeds.

The Golden-tailed Spiny Ant is a captivating creature with its spiky exterior and unique behavior. Its distinctive appearance, social structure, and ecological importance make it a fascinating subject of study for entomologists and nature enthusiasts alike.

1/200 - f/9 - ISO100 - macro - diffused flash

False garden Mantis underside

 

One thing about photographing a False garden Mantis (Pseudomantis albofimbriata), is they always seem to be upside down. So here's a shot, taken from above, showing the underside of the Mantis. This specimen is a male.

1/200 - f/9 - ISO100 - diffused flash

Black Field Cricket (Teleogryllus commodus)

 

The Black Field Cricket, (Teleogryllus commodus) is a cricket species native to Australia.They are significant pests to most plants in Australia and New Zealand. The species originated in Australia but with time they were introduced to New Zealand. They are known to cause significant damage to pastures and gardens. They inhabit rocky surfaces or ground with large amounts of cracks as it gives them shelter from the sun, and are most active at night.

1/200 - f/9 - ISO100 - macro - diffused flash

Eucalyptus Tip Bug (Amorbus alternatus) Nymph

 

Eucalyptus Tip-wilter Bug (Amorbus alternatus)

Nymph stage of a Eucalyptus Tip-wilter Bug (Amorbus alternatus), aka Gumtree Tip Bug, in the family Coreidae. The adults are typically dark brown in colour with light brown to orange on the legs and antennae, and alternated brown and yellow along the edges of the abdomen. Males have stouter hind femora and spiny hind legs. Body length about 20mm, plus antennae. They are relatively slow moving, but both adults and nymphs will release strong repellent odours when disturbed.

1/100 - f/7.1 - ISO400

Rose Aphid (Macrosiphum rosae)

 

Macrosiphum rosae, the rose aphid, is a species of sap-sucking insect in the family Aphididae. It infests rosebushes as its main host in spring and early summer, congregating on the tips of shoots and around new buds.

1/200 - f/9 - ISO100 - 55mm + 31mm macro extension - diffused flash

Grass Dart (Ocybadistes walkeri) or Skipper

A Grass Dart, (Ocybadistes walkeri) or Skipper butterfly resting on a fallen Rose petal just after a short rain shower.  This species of small butterfly is found in eastern and southern Australia, with one sub-species found in the Northern Territory. 

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1/200 - f/9 - ISO100 - macro - diffused flash

Rufous Grasshopper

 

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The Rufous grasshopper or Gomphocerippus rufus (synonym Gomphocerus rufus and others), is a medium-sized, broad, brown, 'short-horned' grasshopper with clubbed antennae that are tipped with a conspicuous white or pale colour. It is fairly large, averaging 14 to 22 mm in length. It is of the subfamily Gomphocerinae in the family Acrididae, the predominant family of grasshoppers. This species is present in most of Europe, in the eastern Palearctic ecozone and in the Near East. It can be encountered from late July through mid-December, usually in dry or slightly moist habitats. The environments in which it typically resides include dry grassland on calcareous soils, sheltered valleys with scrub, and the open borders of forests. It feeds on grasses and various herbaceous plants. It is known for its distinctive courtship song and accompanying display.

1/200 - f/9 - ISO100 - 55mm + 31mm macro extension - diffused flash

Rufus Net-Caster (Deinopis subrufa)

 

The Rufus Net-Caster, (Deinopis subrufa), is a species of net-casting spiders. It occurs in Australia and in New Zealand. It is a nocturnal hunter, having excellent eyesight, and hunts using a silken net to capture its prey. They feed on a variety of insects, eg; ants, beetles, crickets and other spiders.

1/200 - f/9 - ISO200 - 55mm + 13mm macro extension - diffused flash

Uloboris congregabilis Spider

 

The Uloboris congregabilis spider, of the family Uloboridae, is widely common through out Australia, yet has no known common name. They are quite a small spider with a body length of about 6mm, and are distinct in appearance by their humped abdomen. Uloboridae spiders do not have poison glands.

1/200 - f/8 - ISO200 - reversed 55mm - diffused flash

Zebra Cactus Flower Macro

 

Here's a macro shot of a Zebra Cactus flower, (Haworthia fasciata), isolated from the background using a telephoto lens and macro extension tube.

1/250 - f/8 - ISO200 - 135mm + 31mm macro extension

St Andrew's Cross (Argiope keyserlingii)

 

A female St Andrew's Cross spider, (Argiope keyserlingii), in her web, the silk egg sac or casing and the hatched spiderlings.

More info @ Wikipedia 

Trailing Lantana (Lantana montevidensis) 'Luscious Grape'

 

Trailing Lantana (Lantana montevidensis) 'Luscious Grape'. A small strongly scented flowering low shrub with oval-shaped green leaves. The flower-head is a cluster of several purple to lavender to white funnel-shaped flowers with lobed corollas each nearly a centimeter wide. In Australia, this plant is a noxious weed and is toxic to livestock.

1/200 - f/9 - ISO400 - 55mm macro

Shaggy Jumping Spider (Hypoblemum griseum)

 

This Shaggy Jumping Spider, (Hypoblemum griseum), was photographed on the side of a house. The spider appears to be protecting a nursery web, which probably contains the eggs and/or hatchlings.

1/200 - f/11 - ISO200 - 55mm + 31mm macro extension - diffused flash

Garlic Chives Flowers Macro

 

Although Garlic chives, (Allium tuberosum), are classed as an invasive weed in Australia, they are grown by many people for use in cooking. They flower from late Summer into Autumn and as you can see, the flowers make an excellent macro subject. 

1/160 - f/9 - ISO400 - 55mm + 31mm macro extension

World Wildlife Day 2021

 

World Wildlife Day 2021 theme is "Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.”

World Wildlife Day is celebrated each year on March 3. to raise awareness of issues that impact wildlife. Earth is home to countless species, and wildlife plays an important role in balancing the environment. It can be found in all ecosystems, deserts, rainforests, plains, and other areas. The day also highlights the issues such as urbanization, poaching, pollution, destruction of wildlife habitat, and the ways that humans can contribute to conservation efforts.

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Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

 

A Honey Bee, (Apis mellifera), snapped just as it was landing on a Clover flower.

1/200 - f/8 - ISO100 - macro

Echeveria Pulvinata

 

Flowers of Echeveria pulvinata, called the plush plant, is a species of flowering succulent plant in the genus Echeveria, native to southwest and central Mexico. It has stems tipped with small rosettes of green spathulate leaves covered with silvery-white hairs. The plant produces yellow and orange, bell-shaped flowers.

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1/200 - f/11 - ISO100