Our workbook pages
These pages are ‘behind the scenes’. They are a part of our website where we record our data, observations and references we use in making species identifications. The notes will not necessarily be complete. They are a record for our own use, but we are happy to share this information with anyone interested in this kind of detail,
Finding of a dead female Pterygophorinae sawfly provides an opportunity to check detailed morphological features separating species in this subfamily
A close look at our local Sphodrotes species … now confirmed as Sphodrotes punctuosa, the type species for the genus. In addition to the detailed evidence and logic behind my species ID, I’ve included brief biological observations and a small set of images.
Also included is a summary table for the 12 species of this endemic – and little known – Australian genus.
Found alive in Bellingen, northern NSW. Collected and identified to species level using Shaw 1990.
Specimen ID #2412A
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.
Summary table for the 8 genera in the tribe Bembicini, with photographic examples of various key distinguishing features (plus other related material)
Summary table for the 31 species of Austrogorytes, a genus endemic to Australia.
Summary table for the three Australian species of Ammatomus, along with copies of the original species descriptions.
Summary table for the five Australian genera of Larrini, along with various references & diagrams.
Summary table for the eight Australian genera of Miscophini, along with various diagrams, images & references.
Summary table comparing the seven species of Australian Nitela and Auchenophorus, along with various diagrams and references.
The Bembicini genera Argogorytes and Austrogorytes are superficially similar. Here's a definitive comparison for two WA species that I have previously struggled to differentiate from written descriptions alone.
(cover image: Kerry Stuart, iNaturalist sighting
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/235308189
Probable species ID: Megalyra wagneri
Found dead, probably emerged from collected dead wood.
Specimen ID #2408B
Possible ID: Megalyra minuta
Found dead, probably emerged from collected dead wood.
Specimen ID #2406C
Australian Megalyridae, all within the single genus Megalyra: summaries, resources, references and links to related blog posts.
