Hic Sunt Dracones!
Rainy weekends - they're hard to beat eh? And despite dire predictions from the met service, (at one point after listening to them I thought an ark might be required), the rain's been sporadic - not monsoonal at all - a bit of a let down really.
However, it has meant that the temps are lower and more importantly, the critters are getting a drink. So over the last 24 hours or so I've been dodging the rain, snapping away and generally making a nuisance of myself.
It's hardly news that dragonfly's are some of my favourite insects - to watch and to photograph. The more I learn about them, the more intrigued I become. For example, I wasn't aware that they can move all four wings independently of one another - no wonder they're such accomplished flyers eh? Thanks to Sir David Attenborough for that little gem from his new doco series Conquest of the skies.
The dragonfly's in the garden are plentiful and the rain is providing them with essential breeding sites. The males patrol small areas, seeing off interlopers while attempting to grapple with the females who move in and out of their territories.
The frogs of course are seemingly loving the rain and I spied one yesterday through a hole in a wild ginger plant left by a grasshopper.
The funny thing was that as the night got wetter - who should slip inside but this same little guy (You're right of course, I can't prove it's the same frog - but it's fun to imagine eh?).
Now, for those of you who like to hurt yaselves with taxonomy - what species do you suppose this handsome Hemiptera is? I haven't the foggiest, but as the order is huge, I figure that's okay eh?.
Not every critter is thrilled to see the rain. The blue-moon butterfly below was doing her best to keep her wings dry by sheltering under a leaf on the very same plant that the yellow flower spider (previous post) has taken up residence. In fact, I've counted three Diaea inhabiting the bush - so not a safe place to seek sanctuary at all. The spider has also moved to a new flower - and a new victim. We're becoming quite well acquainted, that spider and I - although one suspects she's just using me to get published ;)
Weirdly, we've seen no snakes - with the rain and concomitant wildlife, I was sure that we would've, but no. Of course, the females may all be attending a fifty shades of grey premier - but where are the males?. Ah well, there are plenty of reptiles around to share with you - such as this Carlia. My rainbow skink friends are gamely braving the weather and if the amount of juveniles I've seen today is any indication, their population is pretty healthy.
Well good people - that's it for today ... I'm off to annoy a few drinks (and Jo), so - as always, take care - Paul
However, it has meant that the temps are lower and more importantly, the critters are getting a drink. So over the last 24 hours or so I've been dodging the rain, snapping away and generally making a nuisance of myself.
It's hardly news that dragonfly's are some of my favourite insects - to watch and to photograph. The more I learn about them, the more intrigued I become. For example, I wasn't aware that they can move all four wings independently of one another - no wonder they're such accomplished flyers eh? Thanks to Sir David Attenborough for that little gem from his new doco series Conquest of the skies.
The dragonfly's in the garden are plentiful and the rain is providing them with essential breeding sites. The males patrol small areas, seeing off interlopers while attempting to grapple with the females who move in and out of their territories.
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Glittery wet highlights |
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Ready to hunt |
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Once I get out of her way, of course |
The frogs of course are seemingly loving the rain and I spied one yesterday through a hole in a wild ginger plant left by a grasshopper.
 |
A snoozing Litoria xanthomera |
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Upon awakening a little later in the day |
The funny thing was that as the night got wetter - who should slip inside but this same little guy (You're right of course, I can't prove it's the same frog - but it's fun to imagine eh?).
 |
No, no - come in |
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It's nice to have company |
Now, for those of you who like to hurt yaselves with taxonomy - what species do you suppose this handsome Hemiptera is? I haven't the foggiest, but as the order is huge, I figure that's okay eh?.
 |
A little mystery |
Not every critter is thrilled to see the rain. The blue-moon butterfly below was doing her best to keep her wings dry by sheltering under a leaf on the very same plant that the yellow flower spider (previous post) has taken up residence. In fact, I've counted three Diaea inhabiting the bush - so not a safe place to seek sanctuary at all. The spider has also moved to a new flower - and a new victim. We're becoming quite well acquainted, that spider and I - although one suspects she's just using me to get published ;)
 |
blue-moon butterfly |
 |
It was never gonna bee a fair fight (sorry) |
Weirdly, we've seen no snakes - with the rain and concomitant wildlife, I was sure that we would've, but no. Of course, the females may all be attending a fifty shades of grey premier - but where are the males?. Ah well, there are plenty of reptiles around to share with you - such as this Carlia. My rainbow skink friends are gamely braving the weather and if the amount of juveniles I've seen today is any indication, their population is pretty healthy.
 |
The lizards seem to be enjoying the refreshing rain |
Well good people - that's it for today ... I'm off to annoy a few drinks (and Jo), so - as always, take care - Paul
'Crab' spider is a common name applied loosely to many species of spiders, but most consistently to members of the family Thomisidae. Among the Thomisidae it usually refers to the familiar species of "flower crab spiders", though not all members of the family are limited to ambush hunting in flowers.
Thomisidae do not build webs to trap prey, though all of them produce silk for drop lines and sundry reproductive purposes; some are wandering hunters and the most widely known are ambush predators. Some species sit on or beside flowers or fruit, where they grab visiting insects. Individuals of some species, such as Misumena vatia, are able to change color over a period of some days, to match the flower on which they are sitting.
Thomisidae do not build webs to trap prey, though all of them produce silk for drop lines and sundry reproductive purposes; some are wandering hunters and the most widely known are ambush predators. Some species sit on or beside flowers or fruit, where they grab visiting insects. Individuals of some species, such as Misumena vatia, are able to change color over a period of some days, to match the flower on which they are sitting.
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