Vanessa kershawi … a common and widespread species, here nectar-feeding on Stackhousia

Glyphipterix cometophora. Small, day-active moths that flash their shining wings in rhythmic motion.

Ectinorhynchus … low-flying, breeding swarms are a common sight in October.

Austrolestes leda. A female, deep in the forest – well away from the pond with its patrolling males.

Austrolestes annalis. Paul discovered this immature male resting in the forest … and I mistakenly assumed it was another Austrolestes leda female. I should have looked more closely … clearly a male, clearly distinct in shape and markings. And a new species for our home list!

Delias nigra, feeding on Stackhousia. This species is an uncommon sighting here … we are the southernmost extent of its reported range.

Delias harpalyce, larger and more common than Delias nigra. The Stackhousia were attracting these butterflies down from the canopy, where they are typically searching for mistletoe.

A medium-sized native, possibly Halictinae, laden with Aotus pollen

Caladenia alata, with particularly tiny and short-lived flowers.

Thelymitra ixioides … a common species, but this is the first time we’ve found it here in the forest.

Thelymitra ixioides. Thelymitra species typically only open in warm, humid weather. This particular species is less particular than many, and opened most days.

Aleucosia, one of dozens of species in this genus.

Oxyopes gracilipes … an ambush predator, awaiting flower-visiting insects.

Lipotriches (Austronomia) australica are medium-sized, ground-nesting bees. This female was one of several bees species collecting pollen and nectar from Aotus flowers.

Apis mellifera, an introduced species. They are larger than most of our local native bees, and are unwelcome competitors for scarce resources. Best recognised by the waxy balls of pollen carried on each flattened back leg and her very hairy eyes.

Paralucia aurifer, the first butterfly species to appear this Spring. Like this one, many are starting to look rather worn. Battles for mates and attacks by birds take their toll.

Austroargiolestes icteromelas … one of the more common damselfly species of the forest

perhaps Gynoplistia … and not a species we’ve seen before

Philobota arabella is one of the many small to medium sized moths that flutter from their low perches when disturbed by our wanderings.

Genus Caedicia. It will probably change colour quite dramatically as it moults and grows … many katydid nymphs do.

Xerochrysum bracteatum, a native species that has given rise to a variety of cultivars.

Diuris orientis. We first recorded the species here last year, and were delighted when it flowered again this Spring, and in the same spot.

Podagritus, a ground-nesting wasp species I watched for many hours last year. But in that time I never did spot a mated pair. Paul captured this pair on 13th October, our first sighting for the season.

Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) sp. (probably), concentrating nectar by bubbling to evaporate excess water.

Pasma tasmanica, a species we’ve not recorded here previously. But then again, skippers are notoriously tricky to identify, and many of our older photos remain in the (slightly) too-hard basket. For now.

Todiramphus sanctus. They’re back!

Todiramphus sanctus. Having wintered in the north, a pair have returned to their regular nest hole. We assume it’s the same pair … seems a good bet.

Yet another small, colourful wasp that we can’t yet put a name to. Almost certainly an ichneumond, but that is a very large group!

Porrostoma rhipidium … at least, I think it is. Porrostoma rhipidium has excellent mimics including jewel beetles, weevils, longhorn beetles and even flies!

Porrostoma rhipidium, resting after rain.

Species unknown (to me), as is the case for nearly all flower wasps. This shot was taken just seconds after the male managed to connect with the flightless female. He had been holding her with his legs, but now the coupling is secure.

Meomyia fasciculata (perhaps) … but certainly a species we’ve not noticed before.

Pseudopantilius australis. A rather large, sap-feeding bug known to feed on Pultenaea, Hakea and Leptospermum. This one was perched on Leucopogon, but not apparently feeding.

This small insect and its many siblings are the stars of Paul’s latest post, ‘Breaking Out’. We watched on as they each pulled free of their egg case and immediately underwent the first (rather difficult) moult.

Dianella caerulea … this, the first flower of the season, opened on 22nd October. At that time many of the distinctive plants, with their broad, bright green leaves, sported tall, budding flower spikes. But then the wallabies got busy, and now most are topless. It happens every year!

We’re seeing this rather small, plain bee fly quite often of late … but it’s not a species we know.

Systoechus perhaps??

Metopius. A parasitoid of caterpillars, particularly those that live in rolled leaves. She has no sting – but her shape and colour might fool predators into mistaking her for a stinging paper wasp.

Drysdalia rhodogaster. A small, day-active snake … and just the second snake we’ve seen this season. The other was a Red-bellied Black-Snake, swimming (and hunting!) in the frog pond.

Melaleuca citrina … until quite recently known as Callistemon citrina. This plant regrew from rootstock, post fire, and these are the very first flowers.

Aoplocnemis rufipes. We regularly find these small weevils - individually or in tandem – on the tussock grass Poa labillardierei.

The pond is a multi-species chorus of frog calls of late, and is rapidly filling with frog eggs. Tree Frogs (Litoria peronii), Toadlets (Pseudophryne dendyi), Froglets (Crinia signifera), Marsh Frogs (Limnodynastes peronii) … and perhaps others.

Tetragnatha (most likely). These slender spiders are common above water, and the frog pond is festooned with them.

Hypocysta metirius. We are at the very southern limit of this species’ reported distribution. Indeed, there are currently more than 1000 records on iNaturalist – and all are north of us.

Staurostichus. Reasonably large, reasonably common.

Meomyia albiceps, arguably our most common bee fly – but apparently less widespread or well known than the similar-looking Meomyia sericans.

Meomyia albiceps. Paul noticed several of these bee flies repeatedly hovering and landing on a patch of firm soil. He has done some follow up reading and is planning a blog about this quite fascinating behaviour. It’s not quite what one might think!

Primeuchroeus really are very small. This one was searching the leaf litter, presumably seeking the burrows of ground-nesting bees or wasps.

Thelymitra pauciflora … an exciting find for us. This is the first time we’ve seen this species here.

Thelymitra pauciflora. Given that the small flowers opened for just a few hours, on just one day, we feel very fortunate indeed to have seen this orchid.

Cyclosa fuliginata, a very common species in south-eastern Australia.

Eleale pucher. As an adult, this small beetle feeds on flowers. The larvae are reportedly found under loose bark.

Pison … this species is smaller than many in the genus. Pison paralyse and gather spiders on which to raise their larvae. They typically use mud to build cells in nooks and crannies.

Diphucephala, arguably more attractive than the typical brown or black beetles of this family.

Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) … an extremely tiny bee, just 3-4mm long. She releases pollen from this Hibbertia by vibrating the anthers. Like other members of the family Colletidae, she transports pollen by swallowing it (rather than carrying it on her legs or body).

Hylaeus. Wahlenbergia flowers are a favourite haunt of small masked bees. This one would hunker down in the bell of the flower, periodically emerging (as in the cover photo) to posture, groom or sun itself. I presume it’s a male on the lookout for a mate.

Mecynodera coxalgica. Despite the large back legs and the common name ‘Kangaroo Beetle’, this species doesn’t jump. They feed on pollen … and this one was found on flowering Gahnia, with pollen-laden anthers readily accessible.

Sericornis frontalis. This juvenile was one of several birds noisily foraging among the densely regrowing wattles.

Subfamily Thynninae, species unknown. The wingless female is feeding from a drop of liquid supplied by the much larger male. Most species feed head-to-head, but this one regularly adopts this posture. I’ve not seen this reported in descriptions of flower wasp behaviour.

Maratus volans. The males are small but glorious, and bold hunters among low vegetation and leaf litter.

Maratus volans. In 1894 when this species was named, it was thought to use the side flaps of the body to fly … volans means ‘flying’ in Latin. They don’t fly, but they do raise the brilliant gold flaps in courtship. I would love to witness this!

Oxyopes, a mature male sporting very large, showy pedipalps.

Caleana major. These two are among a group of about 20 flowers … quite a flock. Their close proximity suggests that they have all grown from the tubers of a single plant. Indeed, this is the site where we first spotted the species … just one flower, in October 2014.

Backobourkia. This genus is often associated with western regions … hence the very ‘Australiana’ name. The most common outback species is apparently quite large. Its eastern cousins, like this one, are of a more modest size.

Yet another unidentified ichneumonid, and definitely a parasite of moth caterpillars. I watched on as she repeatedly explored the case hanging in the shade of the leaves. She injected her long ovipositor into the case, several times, in several places.

… newly parasitised! Having watched the wasp inject her eggs, I moved the leaves to get a better look at her target. The plates of bark the moth has used as camouflage and protection were clearly not enough. The caterpillar will continue to live and feed until the wasp larva has fully grown. Unless another parasitic wasp comes along in the meantime.

Carenum bonelli. This burrowing, predatory, flightless, (and beautiful!) beetle is yet another first for our home list. It is a large, Australian genus, and we are only able to identify it to species level thanks to experienced coleopterist Mark Hura (via iNaturalist).

Neosparassus diana. This rather delicate huntsman species hunts at night and is a common sight in low forest vegetation. They apparently prey on various arthropods … including rather large moths, such as this ill-fated anthelid.

Anoplognathus velutinus … a Christmas Beetle! Although not quite as iridescent as some other members of the genus, this large beetle is nonetheless eye-catching. Several were attracted to our moth light sheet this month. And it’s another first for our home list.

Stylidium. The first flowers opened on 2nd November, considerably later than last year when it bloomed from mid September. I’ve been eagerly awaiting them, not only because they attract a range of bees, but because their pollination mechanism is quite dramatic. (for more, take a look at last year’s blog)

Stylidium. We have assumed this to be Stylidium graminifolium, but there is another possibility … Stylidium armeria. Paul is currently re-imaging, re-measuring leaves, and researching. Whichever it is, their floral mechanism is likely to be identical. (see iNaturalist discussion)

Amphirhoe sloanei. The larvae of this day-active beetle develop in the dead or dying branches of Acacia. Well, we have plenty of those!

Amphirhoe sloanei. This distinctive species is found from Rockhampton (QLD) all the way around the coast to South Australia. Yet we’d not seen it before.

Atrapsalta encaustica. The soft, repetitive calls of this species are becoming the background soundtrack of the forest. It is quite a small cicada, and well camouflaged against the bark of dead or burnt trees.

The long legs with prominent spines, combined with the characteristic ‘jump, hop, wing-flick’ behaviour identify this as a spider wasp. They’re an increasingly common sight of late, various species and a range of sizes.

Nyssus coloripes. Although it’s called a ground spider, this particular species seems to favour fallen branches as its hunting ground. It is reported to be a mutilid wasp (‘velvet ant’) mimic … although I can’t see it myself.

Calochilus paludosus. We’ve been on the lookout for this species, which flowered in early October last year. We spotted this one yesterday, well past its prime. Clearly we’d overlooked it for weeks … which is surprisingly easy to do with these orchids.

Villa. This genus has a worldwide distribution, although I suspect that most of our species are endemic. The larvae develop inside their insect hosts: usually caterpillars, but sometimes fly larvae or beetle grubs.

Diuris sulphurea. A common and widespread Diuris species, currently flowering throughout the forest.

Orthorhinus cylindrirostris. This rather large weevil was apparently attracted to the house lights. Larvae feed inside eucalypt stems, while the adults eat buds and young shoots.

Anthela sp. … alive and well, but not for long. A short time after I took this photo I noticed a huntsman spider making a meal of this very attractive moth. Life, and death, in the forest.

Thysanotus tuberosus. We spotted the first of the season’s flowers just a few days ago, and now they are blooming widely.

Lasioglossum (probably). I was photographing this flower when a photo-bombing bee arrived. She vigorously ‘buzzed’ the anthers and was soon covered in pollen.