Tetragonula carbonaria. These tiny black bees are one of the very few species of native bees to form true colonies … and the only one found in NSW.

Tetragonula carbonaria. The hive will be hidden away inside the hollow of a tree branch or trunk, perhaps 10 metres or more above ground.

Myrmecia nigrocincta … a small, day-active bulldog ant that typically forages among the foliage of shrubs and trees, and can leap up to 10cm between leaves! This one is carrying prey back to the colony, which may include around 1000 individuals within an underground nest.

Primeuchroeus. This female was hanging about watching the nesting activities of other wasps. Her aim? To sneak in, lay an egg, and leave. Her larva would then eat the host’s egg and then its stash of food … cuckoo-style!

Pairs like this are a common sight in Summer, as winged males carry flightless females on protracted mating and feeding flights.

Despite its striking appearance, I’ve yet to come up with an identification. It probably builds a mud nest, but just where and what shape I can only guess.

Myrmecia

Leptophion