Katydid was walking on Leucopogon plants
In dipping, hovering flight above a patch of largely bare ground ... apparently searching for her nest burrow, or checking for predators near the entrance (a behaviour I've witnessed previously
https://southernforestlife.net/happenings/2022/9/a-little-known-wasp)
10mm fly
mating pair, clutching 'nuptial gift' prey
The fly was feeding on Leucopogon squarrosus flowers. The rain has come, watering the plants. The sun was out and the flies were feeding on the new flowers.
Found clinging to low vegetation, alive but very sluggish. Collected for imaging (live), then released ... although I expect she is not long for this world.
Dead prey in web of Christmas Jewel Spider
Bee with red and white markings on its face, hiding in Eromophila then darting to the next.
Identified as Hylaeus Pseudhylaeus on Bowerbird by Michael Batley: "Notice the long palps on this Eremophila specialist"
Hylaeus Prosopisteron aralis or brevior
Identified as Hylaeus Prosopisteron brevior on Bowerbird by Ken Walker: "Great bubbling images!!"
ID by Terry Houston Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) trimerops group, ♀ (#A; females of this group are difficult to separate)
Tiny. Didn't see them mating. There were at least two more in the area.
About 8mm body length.
The smallest bee I've ever photographed, measured at a fraction under 3mm.
I couldn't find an exact match for the little black tick in the middle of the head on Padil.
Most on Padil seem bigger, so may be wrong.
Found in Melaleuca flower with many others.
Basing my id our previous obs:
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/39508881
Therevidae came out in the evening. We were camped near an open surface granite rock.
Attacking a jumping spider.
These appeared in massive numbers. A 2 acre property was completely covered in nests.
Rescued from paddle pool but too late
Found close to patio in developed garden, a few seem to be present.
Feeding on Darwinia sp Karonie on a sand island in the Salty Mortlock River East Branch
Just over 1mm. Found deceased at bug hotel.
I noticed these small Native bees flying around and momentarily landing on a lump of lateritic rock. Closer inspection found that these tiny bees had holes bored into the rock. Occasionally one would disappear down a hole. These bees were unbelievably small: 4 mm long x 1 mm wide.
We sent photos and information to Dr Terry Houston, our local bee expert and he replied:
"Interesting observations! The bee looks to be a Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) species. I'm wondering if the males are just engaging in some mating behaviour. I wouldn't expect that the bees could bore into rock and I'd be surprised if the holes went very far in."
Another weird white one. The previous one I found:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195325658
Found when it landed on a white surface, in the sun, on 7th September.
3.2mm in length.
Our first sighting for the season ... and we have been on the lookout!
Tiny flies were flying over a small, shallow, running stream down the side of a Granite rock in the Jarrah Forrest South of Perth. The water was running underneath but not on top. The flies sat on the water near bubbles on the water.
A leech swam over to one fly and touched its leg then swam away. The fly wiped the leg that the leech touched, on its abdomen.
Note the enlargement on the front legs of this fly.
We had one of these flies visit our Lemon Scented Gum tree Eucalyptus citriodora, late on very hot days before sunset. It was always 2m above the ground on the sunny side. It sat head toward the sky.
On 3 Jan 2012 two flies visited and I noted:
"This week there have been two flies sitting on the Lemon Scented Eucalyptus tree trunk.
They always sit head up and between 1 to 2 metres from the ground. This year one has stayed around most of the day, despite thunderstorms and strong wings strong enough to blow it off the trunk of the tree.
During the heat of the day they sat with their bodies close to the trunk of the tree. (I never realised how cool a tree trunk could be) When disturbed, they raised their bodies away from the tree. After a while I noticed that one would tap one front leg as if it was annoyed at being disturbed for such a long time. "
A fly visited each year for approx 4 years around the same time each year.
Agapophytus albopunctatus was sitting on a Grass Tree under the singed hanging fronds.
The area had been burned 12 months before with a very hot wildfire.
With prey - presumably fresh-caught, as she spent some time maneuvering it before flying off.
Her prey is a bug, and appears to be planthopper in the family Dictyopharidae.
After perching on this leaf, she flew to the ground and started clearing the opening of an existing burrow. I collected her for identification/documentation. For full details, see my workbook notes:
https://southernforestlife.net/notes/2023/austrogorytes-spryi
see also working notes:
https://southernforestlife.net/notes/2023/austrogorytes-spryi
On pink flowering Marri
Two cocoons15mm long 10cm apart on Eucalyptus wandoo branch. Appear to have weblike material wrapped around the twig. A green winged lacewing has laid 3 eggs on the side of one of these 'cocoons'. It has been two days since I noticed it.
Female
Feeding on Darwinia sp. Karonie on Private property
Feeding on Pericalymma ellipticum while flying slowly and buzzing.
Not quite dead but almost. Wedged under door mat and paver. Probably trying to evade one of our many insect eating birds.
The wasp was feeding on Sandalwood Santalum spicatum flowers.