Macro Monday.
Dec 1st, 2008 by Duncan
I put the moth light out last night, first time for a while, the weather just hasn’t been suitable and I’ve been busy. Very little in the way of moths came in before I pulled the pin, but I got dozens of assorted beetles including the first two “Christmas Beetles”. These sometimes come into the garden in huge numbers about now and can defoliate eucalypts, their favourites in our garden are the yellow and manna gums. In the wider area they attack the redgums, but in the garden they much prefer the two I mentioned. I can always tell when they’ve arrived by the scent of eucalyptus oil released from the leaves as they feed.
I think there was only one unremarkable Noctuid moth above micro size, but the little ones were very interesting, this was the smallest, only about 5mm long.
There was an assortment of other insects including a Yellow-banded Dart butterfly, but the one that interested me the most was a mayfly. I’ve had the odd one come in before, but haven’t been able to photograph them successfully up until now. This one was right at the top of the sheet so I had to hand hold the camera, it’s perhaps surprising that it turned out as well as it did. Thanks to Mosura for info. on this beautiful delicate little insect.
Photos.
Scarab beetle
Unidentified moth
A mayfly.
Click all pictures to enlarge.
It certainly is beetle season!
Friends who live out near Anakie (SW of Melbourne) have been inundated by green scarabs. A perfectly natural situation, of course, but the trees are so stressed by fire and drought that the beetles are really knocking them about.
Do Xmas beetles have Santa claws?
Hi Duncan
Fantastic shots, especially of the Mayfly. Great images.
I am getting swarms of micro moths at present, but I’m too tired to night to post any images.
Cheers
Denis
Love that little micro.
Have a look at this one
That’s not offered as an ID but there is some similarity.
That’s a pretty species Snail, rarely get them up here.
Thanks Denis, a proper macro lens makes a difference!
Certainly looks like it Tony, easy to see why they’re so hard to get off when they land on your clothes.
Certainly looks like it Alan, will keep it in mind, thanks.