Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells
Christmas Bells - Blandfordia nobilis

Monday, April 28, 2014

European Wasp loses out (for once).

I noticed a European Wasp moving slowly through the grass and leaf litter, near Lake Alexandra, Mittagong.

I got a bit excited watching this even play out in front of me. I have witnessed Spider Wasps dragging Huntsman Spiders away to the lair, where a nasty fate awaits them. So, I figured there is some kind of justice being played out here.

Look closely.
There is a European Wasp in the grass.
These Ants have long antennae, and they often walk with their "Gaster" (their last body segment) held high in the air.

Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus
Red-headed Spider Ant
drags its 'prize" a European Wasp
towards its nest.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Some moths from April 2014

These moths may be seen via my Facebook album which is set to be viewed by anyone and everyone.
You do not need to be a Facebook member to see them.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152786509244829.1073741916.809229828&type=1&l=783b0147ad

This seems likely to be
Thalaina clara

One of the usual Swift Moths I get in Robertson
Oxycanus dirempta

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Fungi found at Wombeyan Caves, NSW, 6,7 April 2014

There is an album on Facebook showing the large variety of fungi I saw on the weekend.
It was wet, which the Fungi loved, but which I didn't appreciate as much as the Fungi did.
These photos are available to the public - one does not need to sign up to Facebook to view them.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152742888119829.1073741912.809229828&type=1&l=3be8018cef

Russula persanguinea

Russula persanguinea
Note the white stem, which is brittle
and the densely packed white gills


Lichen - with tint red fruiting bodies which
look to me like little red boxing gloves.

dark orange cap on Boletus.

From the underneath,
you can see the white pores,
which are easily marked.
There are many more fungi photographed, including some unusual varieties.
Go to https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152742888119829.1073741912.809229828&type=1&l=3be8018cef

Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Amazing red Starfish Fungus - Clathrus archeri

An amazing, huge red "Stinkhorn" fungus found on the Wombeyan Caves Road (Between Wombeyan Caves and Taralga). It is called Clathrus archeri (Also known as Anthurus archeri)




I have seen small "Starfish Fungi" which resemble this one. But I was not prepared for the huge size of these things (note the hand for size comparison).

As with all Stinkhorns", the sticky "gleba" smells like "poo" - to attract flies, to carry the spores away. to start new colonies.


 Several old ones had dried and shrunk. But two were more or less "fresh".



Strangely, it is apparently Australian in origin, but has spread to North America and Europe. Serves them right for the Rabbit, the Sparrow and thousands of  weedy plants.

But you have to admit it is weird - world class weird.
Variously called Devil's Fingers, Octopus Stinkhorn, Helicopter Stinkhorn.
http://www.kew.org/.../clathrus-archeri-devils-fingers

Friday, April 04, 2014

Scorpion in Robertson

I have heard of Scorpions being in Robertson, but I have not seen one before.
This specimen was captured by a friend, and I asked to take its photo. It was already deceased when I was told about it.
It had walked into my friend's house, near Fountaindale Road.
It was trying to crawl under a sofa. This is reported widely as common behaviour of Scorpions in Australia.
A small Scorpion, probably a "Southern or Wood Scorpion",
Genus Cercophonius (most likely)
The general advice from Australian websites is that our Scorpions inflict painful stings, but are not fatal for humans. Good news for us in Australia. It is different in other countries.

"The Australian species can inflict a painful sting that results in swelling and pain for several hours, but there have not been any confirmed deaths of people from stings from Australian scorpions. Medical advice should be sought if you are stung by a scorpion." Museum Victoria

This Scorpion appears similar in size and general form to the Victorian species (plural) known as Southern or Wood Scorpions.  Apparently there are at least six species in the genus 
Cercophonius.   



Most likely this is a
Southern or Wood Scorpion
Cercophonius squama, it is a very small species (~25mm). It tends to spend most of its life buried down under rotting logs where it consumes many small insects, incuding termites. It rarely faces predators head on (in open battle). As such is one of our least toxic scorpions.


Head on view of the Scorpion
I thought that the "pincers" (pedipalps)
were single only, but of course they are dual parts
just very finely matched, so that they appear as a single unit
when not opened to clasp prey.



Close-up shot of the pedipalp
Only in close-up can one see both sides to these pincers.

I have never had any close contact with Scorpions previously.
When we turned it over, we were surprised to see these brush-like structures
underneath the second body section of the Scorpion.
"a pair of featherlike sensory organs known as the pectines"
Source: Wikipedia


The comb-like "pectines" are visible underneath
the "mesosomal section" of the Scorpion.
Sorry about some extraneous fibres visible in this photo.
"The second segment has the pectines, sensory organs that are unique to scorpions.  The pectines are paired, comblike structures attached to a small plate called the basal piece; evidence suggests that the pectines function in evaluating textures of surfaces the scorpion is walking on and in detecting chemical substances (pheromones) used in sexual attraction." 
Source: http://www.vaejovidae.com/Anatomy.htm




Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Corunastylis sagittifera flowers on 1 April 2014, in Kangaloon, NSW

More Orchids, of course. 

These are not as late as I first thought. I have seen them in mid-April,

But I have also seen this same species in flower in the last week in January 2011.

So, clearly they are variable in flowering time, dependent upon the seasons.

Here is a Facebook album which is accessible to all - no need to sign in for anything.


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152725111779829&set=oa.615394361886031&type=1&theater