Describing life in one small patch of dry sclerophyll forest:
the plants, the insects, the birds and other animals …
and their myriad interactions.
twelve of our earlier favourites
A detailed look at the nesting behaviour and identification of two more Crabronidae, Sphodrotes and Austrogorytes – with a Bembix and Cerceris thrown in, for good measure.
An orchid lures a wasp with the promise of sex - to achieve its own reproductive needs
Not at all boring! The arrival of Summer coincides with a dramatic transformation of the forest undergrowth.
Triggerplants are among the speediest of plants. I take a closer look at the structure and function of their flowers.
Flower wasps, Thynninae, are an important part of the forest ecosystem – it was time for me to learn more about them.
A close look at the insect traps of Drosera auriculata, in all their glory
Three months on, the epicormic growth is astonishing. I seek to learn more, even as I marvel at a sight I may not see again for many years. Indeed, I rather hope not to.
A forest begins the slow process of regrowth following an intense bushfire.
Reflections on building to withstand a wildfire
A moth’s face up close is surprisingly beautiful - and provides clues to the identity of its owner
Rearing caterpillars to discover which moth species they belong to can bring surprises!
Finding some new representatives of the spider taxon Mygalomorphae (Mygals, for short) leads me to discover more about this endearing group of animals.