Identification to species level, based on Leclercq’s detailed description of the female and comparison with images of the holotype. At the time of Leclercq’s major revision (1997), only that holotype was known in collection. We can now add several more females … plus the missing males!

A close look at our local species of Podagritus, identified as P. leptospermi, with detailed images of both sexes. Plus a short sequence of ‘live action’, featuring a female with prey struggling to find her nest burrow.

The key features distinguishing Podagritus from Rhopalum, and a guide to distinguishing between Podagritus species of eastern Australia.

Last summer I captured images of Pseudoturneria territorialis females, both in the field and upon collection. But at that time no males were to be seen. More luck this year, as in early November males are suddenly swarming about the nesting site.

Summary of Leclercq’s 2007 revision of this small genus, endemic to Australia. I was prompted to delve into this genus by an iNaturalist sighting from Victoria. Included is a summary table to features of the three described species of Chimiloides, and links to the relevant literature. Also, I detail my reasoning behind suggesting a species ID for the iNat sighting (Chimiloides doddii).

Pseudoturneria territorialis collected locally and imaged, including several live shots in the field. Annotated images illustrate the identification to tribe, then genus, and finally species. A summary table for distinguishing the 5 known species is provided, along with relevant references.

These may be the first such images available online … I certainly haven’t located any others as yet.

Comparing the 14 Australian species within these three, very similar genera.

Exploring published descriptions of Australia’s Dasyproctus and Neodasyproctus species – there are just six currently described, but discriminating between them is an ongoing challenge.