The male gall of the coccid bug Apiomorpha pharetrata consists of hundreds of chambers each housing a single insect. How is this complex structure assembled?

In a break with tradition, an essay. A thought piece. No photos, no field notes, no references. Just musings on why I do what I do.

A very large, quite beautiful orb-weaver and her equally spectacular web are currently on display in the forest

“What did you do with your summer holidays Kerri-Lee?”

Well, let me tell you all about it! I broadened my home range and met several new faces … and some rather special ones at that!

Includes accounts of: Acanothostethus (Crabronidae: Nyssonini); Pseudoturneria (Crabronidae: Crabronini; Megalyra (Megalyridae); and Pseudofoenus (Gasteruptiidae)

A special orchid and its wasp pollinator return after a 4 year absence, providing dramatic views of their interaction

A story of transformation and identification. Having found a newly-emerged, weirdly-shaped fly, I watch her take shape and I’m now confident of her identity: Physocephala nigrotestacea

I explore the extraordinary world inside an extraordinary gall. Fat bodied females, tiny winged males, cute, crawling nymphs and a host of parasites.

This post is an extended version of a talk I gave on 17th September, 2024 in Batemans Bay at a Symposium of the Linnean Society of NSW.

A close look at the mechanics and behaviours involved in Thynninae mating, including genitalia (in all their glory!)

A fortuitous nest location close to the house has provided an intimate look at the rearing of nestlings of the superb fairy-wren

Baby wolf spiders spend the early part of their lives on their mother’s back but at some stage they have to leave home. I get a great opportunity to observe this big occasion in a convenient location.

Spider wasps stash a single spider in a nest as a food source for their developing larvae. I compare how two different species go about this task.

Activity in the forest - most of it related to breeding - has become frenetic as we reach the end of spring.