Although I love Robberflies in general with their bulging eyes, beard like facial hairs and ability to fly around whilst mating, they are, generally speaking, in my area in Victoria, Australia rather monotone in colour. Grey, black with a touch of red in the legs perhaps, or fully black, or black and grey with some orange on the tail.
But when I found this Robberfly near Mt Pilot (near Beechworth) it was so gorgeously colourful that I just had to get a photo.
It was extremely difficult - it hovered here and there with a quick land on the bushes of Fringe Myrtle which were in full bloom, and then up again. I was lucky to get this one. And it was everything I could see - lovely colours on the legs, abodmen, and everywhere really.
First time I've seen this species and it won't be easy to forget.
I'm afraid I was in a bit of a rush this morning. I had allowed 1 hour in the forest before taking stuff to the op shop and getting back for an afternoon appointment. It was all very quiei but overcast and rain threatening. It was also quite humid.
My favourite flowering bushes are where I found this bee. The River Bottlebrush and the other kunzea were finished, but this one was just out. It was covered in insects and a number of wasp species. But I noticed this bee straight off because of its waggling back end every time it landed. It did look like a moth caterpillar poking out - black/grey with an orange head.
I got a bit lucky with the photos. The bee was quite small but I managed to move back a little and get some good ID and framing photos. I've never seen anything like this bee before.
I've had some trouble getting my native bee shots ID'd in the past. I now own a copy of Native Bees of the ACT and NSW South Coast A SPotter's Guide by Peter Abbott 2022, but it's difficult for a novice like me to find the bee without trawling every single page.
