…for the observer of the world of invertebrates, which makes it such an interesting occupation. A wander in the riverside reserve came up with this on the trunk of a young silver wattle, Acacia dealbata, a Cottony Cushion Scale (Icerya purchasi) egg case. Originating from Australia, the sap sucking insect is now found world-wide as a pest on citrus, with wattles also a favourite food.

Common Flatwings always seem to invite the photographer to take another snap.

Austroargiolestes icteromelas.

The Bursarias in the reserve are just starting to come into flower, and although they are a magnet for many species of insect, just one in large numbers is there so far.

Stenoderus suturalis, the Stinking Longicorn.

A chance sighting on a brick wall was another first, a Common Drone Fly, Eristalis tenax. This bee mimicking hoverfly is found world-wide except for Antarctica.

In the garden, numerous Honeybrown Beetles, Ecnolagria grandis are present, they feed on dead plant matter and haven’t been noticeable in previous years.

Native bees have been sparse this season. This Hylaeus nubilosus was very interested in a small hole in a mortar joint for a nest site and checked it out for some time. It had however been used by other creatures including jumping spiders, and eventually the bee decided to look elsewhere.

A couple of fly shots to finish, a mating pair of Stiletto Flies,

And another pair, unidentified.

Some images will enlarge.

Some old friends for this first post for 2021, Starting with a nicely coloured male Black-faced Percher seen against the blue sky.

Diplacodes melanopsis.

Down by the river Common Flatwings are the most numerous damselflies, but a female Orange Threadtail was cooperative and allowed a few snaps.

Nososticta solida.

Along the old road reserve a dragonfly flushed from the grass and flew to a Blackwood, where it perched quite unconcerned by the photographer. It is an Australian Emperor, a pristine specimen and an occasional record for the location.

Anax papuensis.

Flitting Common Grass Blues are extremely numerous along the old road but nevertheless are always checked in case of something different.

Zizina labradus.

This paid off with closer examination of a tiny butterfly that looked slightly different, and became the first record of a White-banded Grass-dart.

Taractrocera papyria.

Robberflies are good photographic subjects, this one has a hearty meal.

Subfamily Asilinae.

Back in the garden the Sand Wasps are still hard at work, and keeping up their energy by nectaring in the Sannantha pluriflora.

Bembix species.

Click images to enlarge.