noahfenwick's Identifications

Lepidoptera survey in an old bush remnant with @possumsend. Two days and two nights yielded over 120 Lepidoptera species. Mature kowhai, totara, ribbonwood, narrow-leaved lacebark, matai etc. Also, an abundance of Coprosma, Corokia, Streblus and Urtica amongst a myriad of other native trees, shrubs, and vines.

For @stephen_thorpe — farewell, my iNat friend.

Back in May 2023, I received a message from Stephen. He suggested I should keep an eye out for these obscure scale insects that are only found on Apodasmia similis — he (of course) had been the only one on iNat to observe them up until then. As luck would have it, that particular restio is planted in my garden, and it's packed with those inconspicuous little scales. In fact, I've found (with a little help) that they're quite common on oioi all around Christchurch, including in planted gardens far from natural habitat — not bad for a flightless, sedentary blob, especially considering it's thought that no males occur in this species!

Who else other than Stephen would've ever noticed this endemic but rather uncharismatic scale insect? The same could be easily said for the thousands of other tiny, obscure creatures he has observed or identified here over the years — for which he often was the first and/or only person to do so in living memory. Who else would have the patience, focus, and skill to find, photograph, identify, and upload the overwhelming number of esoteric taxa that he worked so tirelessly on sharing here — especially considering the great many limitations he had to work within.

I'll always admire Stephen's enthusiasm for and fascination with the living details that made up the world around him. I often think of him when I come across something so small and obscure that only he could be excited to find it.

From the many tributes that have already accumulated in just a day or so, it's clear that his enthusiasm and skill touched many lives.

Sit tibi terra levis, Stephen.