Buggin with Bridgey – November 2020
Welcome to Buggin in November! Happy to tell you that bug season is in full swing with many insects in the midst of their breeding season.
I’ve seen many Beautiful Cockroaches… Yes, that is actually their common name, otherwise known as Ellipsidion austral. These are an ornate garden cockroach usually hiding amongst flowers. I’ve seen numerous instars which I really enjoy photographing as they are usually on some nice foliage and they have such fantastic patterns on the back.
Ellipsidion australe
One of the most incredible sightings during my tours this month has been a cluster of Netwing Mantis (neomantis australis) broods. The gorgeous mothers stay very close to their eggs and some of my tour participants were lucky enough to see a few mothers, with eggs and also babies. This is a new experience for me to see so many at the same time.
Netwing Mantis (neomantis australis) mother with eggs and babies
One of my favourite rainforest critters turned up in high numbers in both adult and nymph form. Palm planthoppers (Magia subocellata) are easy to find once you know how and they make great models as well, as long as you don’t get too close. They will happily stay still for a photo.
Palm planthoppers (Magia subocellata) adult and nymph
There was a sudden onset of seemingly millions of Marchflies (Family Bibionidae, in the Order Diptera), and I was able to capture breeding behaviour as well as eggs and numerous images of these harmless flies. Their common name is confusing and misleading as most people know the name March flies as the nasty large flies that tend to hang around waterways and give a nasty bite. These black and red elongated flies however, tend to avoid human skin, as I have never had one land on me.
Marchflies (Family Bibionidae, in the Order Diptera)
The Let’s Go Buggin Night walk on Halloween was a great success with a very enthusiastic group of buggers appreciating the Cairns Botanic Gardens rainforest boardwalk. We found a whole range of night dwellers including lots of spiders and frogs. The evening was captured beautifully by Jemma Craig. Check out Jemma’s amazing images on her Facebook page – Island Jems.
Next Blog December.
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