Unusual Pinkish Katydid at Butler's Swamp

I was excited to find this pinkish Katydid, so I rang Dave Rentz, Australia's leading expert on Katydids (he literally "wrote the book" on Katydids).

Polichne parvicauda
Click on this photo to enlarge it
and see the fine details of the head, eye, etc.

I had emailed some of these photos to Dave, and he immediately recognised it as Polichne parvicauda. He said is very wide-spread and comes in a light brown colour morph, and a green one. This is a bit of a variant, but not madly unusual, apparently.

My dreams of "fame" evaporated.
Polichne parvicauda

An album of photos of this insect is available for public viewing at this site:

Anyway, I was happy to get some fairly clear photos of this insect.

Kangaloon Sun Orchid - a few flowers this spring.

With the unseasonably warm and dry weather, many local Orchids have flowered early.

I just remembered this fact yesterday, and rushed to Tourist Road to check for signs of Thelymitra kangaloonica. I found only one plant with open flowers, but it was indeed the endemic Kangaloon Sun Orchid.

Kangaloon Sun Orchid in situ
adjacent to the road edge.

I returned to the site today, to gain a clearer photo of a fresher flower (on the same plant), as the first photo I took yesterday was a slightly marked specimen.

Close-up of Thelymitra kangaloonica.
This plant is known in some documents as:
Thelymitra sp. Kangaloon (D.L.Jones 18108) Vic.

I have previously published about the listing of this species on the EPBC Act, as a threatened species. And in 2009 the local branch of ANOS got permission to enter the SCA Special Area, and we found lots of plants in flower, in that year.

But today I wish to record that they have flowered again, this year. Indeed they may well have flowered early (which would fit with the hot dry weather experienced so far this season) as I found a number of large Sun Orchid stems growing amongst the rushes in another wet area, about a kilometre from Butler's Swamp. This species is known to grow in this second location. These stems carried finished flowers, some apparently successfully pollinated. But as they were finished flowers I cannot vouch for their identity (species).

Corunastylis apostasioides rampantly in flower at present

Corunastylis apostasioides is famous for being a plant which seldom bothers to open its flowers, in order to get pollinated.

It is not alone in that - a number of other Orchids are said to be self-fertilising***, if conditions are not right for the insects.

But this plant is so completely hairy inside the flower itself, that it seems it has abandoned some of the regular sex organs. I cannot comment upon that, as obviously that requires microscopic analysis, and someone knowing what it is they are looking at or looking for, to make those pronouncements.

Corunastylis apostasioides - labellum open.

As an observer, I can say however, that this week, a humid week, I have seen more Corunastylis apostasioides flowers open than I have ever seen before.

Corunastylis apostasioides - normally shy to open - has 3 open flowers.

*** PlantNET says of this plant: "Flowers cleistogamic or opening to c. 5 mm across, yellowish green with a reddish labellum."

The PlantNET glossary says:

cleistogamous: of flowers that remain closed and are self-pollinating and set fertile seed.

So, there's a Word Challenge for you.

Huge colourful Swift Moth at Butler's Swamp.

On Friday I was at Butler's Swamp (just on the roadside verge, folks), in Kangaloon. I noticed this amazing moth sitting low down in the grass and rushes there.

I am familiar with the large Swift Moths which come to my porch light and windows on wet nights, especially. Usually Oxycanus dirempta.

But this one seemed different - larger, heavier, fatter and with deeper wings than any I had ever seen before.

Also, all my previous ones had some silver marks on the wings, but the patterns vary considerably.

All photos today are provided by 
my Orchid colleague, Alan Stephenson.

Ignore the dark lines on the wings

They are shadows from the grasses and rushes
in which this moth was hiding.

Its wings are plain fawn coloured.
No silver stripes.

Abantiades hyalinatus - a "Swift Moth" or "Ghost Moth"

Anyway, I sought advice from Dave Rentz, who said he thought it was an Hepialid Moth, but flicked the question on to Ted Edwards, from CSIRO's Australian National Insect Collection.

The answer came back that it is indeed a Hepialid moth, Abantiades hyalinatus
 

Indeed, my moth matches some shots from Donald Hobern's gallery.

But a quick look at the link below will show you why I did not recognise it at first. Look at the variability of this species of Swift Moth.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=25401497@N02&z=t&q=Australia+Abantiades+hyalinatus

It sure makes it hard for the amateur when they have wing pattern markings which are "optional".

I was not surprised when David originally suggested Hepialidae, but could not find matches in the Australian Moths on line page for this species.
http://www1.ala.org.au/gallery2/v/Hepialidae/Abantiadeshyalinatus/
Ted's comment about the colour fading (after the specimen dries out) explains that.
 
But I still think it very unsporting of these Moths to have optional patterned or plain wing markings.

Many thanks to both Dave Rentz and Ted Edwards.

**********************

Although we were out and about searching for Orchids (and we found some good ones), the Moth "find" tended to be the discovery of the day.

What happened was that when I spotted the moth 

we all gathered around to take photos.

Then I decided to try to pick up the moth, gently, 

as many large moths appear not to be too troubled by being handled.

Side on view of head, and neck of Abantiades hyalinatus

When I did pick it up, it immediately started flapping.

That revealed this amazing underneath colour.

Clear lilac hind wings.

Abantiades hyalinatus - hind wing colour

And not only were the wings this lilac colour

So was the body!

Amazing.

Abantiades hyalinatus with lilac body revealed

****************

Lest you think too badly of me, dear reader, 

for having disturbed this creature,

here she is, after I released her. 

She flew straight back down into the grasses and rushes

and grabbed hold of a stem, 

just as she had been doing when I first found her.

(I have assumed the sex to be female, mostly because of her size

and also her relatively fine antennae - but I am NO EXPERT.)

You can see the slight hint of lilac even there.

I am not sure what the large black dots are

on the abdomen.

Presumably some kind of gland or other organ.

If anyone can advise me, I would appreciate it.

Underneath view of Abantiades hyalinatus

Once again, I express my gratitude to Alan Stephenson for the photos.

I can now reveal that on the day I was busy 

hanging on to the Moth during the "flapping shots"

and afterwards, 

I was totally bewildered by my encounter with this wonderful moth

and so could barely hold my camera straight.

Post Script: Regular readers will have noted that when Blogging about Moths I frequently link back to Donald Hobern's Flickr Gallery of Australian Lepidoptera (as I have done today).

Well today, Donald advised that "Friday was my last day working at CSIRO as Director of the Atlas of Living Australia (http://www.ala.org.au/). I am moving for a few years with my family to become Director of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (http://www.gbif.org/) in Copenhagen, Denmark. I'm already suffering withdrawal pains at the thought of leaving the Australian fauna for a few years, but I'll be back and I plan to keep working on the Australian plume moths in my spare time."

Donald Hobern.

It is appropriate therefore for me to thank Donald publicly for the excellent service he has provided via his personal Photo gallery, and also via his role as Director of the Atlas of Living Australia. 

I hope that he will continue to make his photo gallery available to us, as a reference service.

And I hope that the Atlas will continue to grow, and develop to its full potential. It is a service which has attracted the interest of many naturalists as well as professionals in the various fields of Natural History.

Corunastylis formosa (???)

Two days ago I published a post proclaiming that I had found a "new" Midge Orchid - new for me - that is.

Right and wrong.

Ah, the perils of Blogging, folks.

Yes I had found a "new species for me" 

but unfortunately I had given it the wrong name. 

Corunastylis formosa (not Corunastylis filiformis)
(Even that name requires confirmation.
It is possible that this is an as-yet unnamed species)

I had proclaimed that the species was Corunastylis filiformis. My Orchid-chasing colleague Colin Rowan (from RetiredAussies.com) emailed me to ask "are you sure?"

My answer was that NO, I was NOT SURE.
(I became less sure as I looked further and further into the original ID)

We swapped notes and I also communicated again with Alan Stephenson, who was able to provide a copy of the Orchadian description of another species, Corunastylis formosa, which, from P. 180 of David Jones's big Orchid book, looked a "better fit" with my plant.

• The Orchadian, Vol 13, No 7 Published March 2001.

This is a copy of that illustration by David Jones, 

originally drawn on  4 December 1994.

Click to enlarge the image, 

to allow you to read the notes, 
and to see details of the illustration.

Note the text gives the name as Genoplesium formosum.
It has since been revised by Clements and Jones
in the Australian Orchid Name Index
as Corunastylis formosa.

Jones illustration from The Orchadian, from the original "description"

In order to resolve the true Identity of this plant, I decided I needed to collect a specimen, which will be forwarded to Mark Clements, at CSIRO, for verification of this ID, and to formally record the location of these plants at Butler's Swamp, Kangaloon, NSW.

So, why am I so sure that what is growing in Kangaloon
is Corunastylis formosa?
(I am no longer as sure.
But if it is not that species, what is it?
It has appeared early in the season,
in the same location for the last 3 years).

Corunastylis formosa (possibly) at Kangaloon.

The first point I wish to address is the habitat in which this plant grows. 
My flowers are growing on the edge of Butler's Swamp, Kangaloon
They are growing in the open, 
amongst grasses and some rushes
on black soil.
Some of them are found in deep moist peaty soil,
typical of an "upland swamp" over a sandstone rock substrate.
Altitude at Butler's Swamp is 640 metres. 

(Legal Note: these plants at Butler's Swamp are 
located immediately outside the "SCA's Special Areas")

Jones described his type specimen as 
"growing amongst shrubs on or close to the edges of montane swamps;
less commonly amongst grass bordering rivulets and other small streams.
Soils are  moist brown to blackish loams.
Altitude 750 - 800 m."

He also gives the etymology of the name "formosa"
as "from the Latin, formosus, finely formed, handsome,
in reference to the striking flowers and dense inflorescence."

Jones, D.L. The Orchadian, Vol 13, No 7 .... March 2001.

I wish to make the point about the similarity of habitat for Kangaloon
and the "type locality" as described by David Jones.
Altitude is high at Kangaloon (640 m), 
but not quite as high as Wadbilliga or Cathcart.
But compared to many other Corunastylis, 
both these groups of plants 
(Jones's "Type specimens" and my plants) 
must  be acknowledged as "growing at altitude".
  
Also the soil and habitat preferences appear similar for both sites.
Importantly, this is an unusual locality and habitat 
for other Corunastylis species I have located in this region
prefer locations, on dry soils or exposed rock shelves.



And now to the flower details:

The lateral sepals look like pointed "horns" poking out.

In situ, these lateral sepals tend to be held horizontally.
The dorsal sepal has no hairs along the edge
and the Labellum is coarsely hairy.
The labellum is also quite broad and "stiff" (i.e., it is not motile***)
as distinct from Corunastylis fimbriata, for example.

A single flower of  Corunastylis formosa (???) - isolated

To see the flower clearly, (isolated from others on the stem)
I severed the ovary and the flower from the stem.
Compare this image with the Figure "d" 

in the illustration above.
(Ignore the shadow lines)
Click to see the details.

Corunastylis formosa (???) petals and labellum visible, over the dorsal sepal.

Back to the Identification of this plant. 

This flower has the same "structure" as described by David Jones within his  Corunastylis Group 2: "Dorsal Sepal hairless, petals hairless or with a few long hairs labellum broad with long coarse hairs." Jones. op cit P. 179

Compare this plant with the following related plants which I have previously reported and photographed. These are all grouped together by Jones in his "Group 2" (for Corunastylis).

1. Corunastylis plumosa, the Tallong Midge Orchid - which grows on harsh, dry rock shelves, under dense low shrubbery.
2. Corunastylis sagittifera, the "Horned Midge Orchid" which is a much paler flower, with a light-coloured labellum.
3. Corunastylis formosa, the Cathcart Midge Orchid - this flower.

In order to study the flower's parts in detail
I dissected one flower.

Here is the Labellum.

You can see the coarse hairs on the labellum closely

and the two pale sections are the "callus" on the labellum

That callus is illustrated clearly in David Jones's illustration above

See figure "e" in the centre of that illustration.

Labellum of Corunastylis formosa (???), showing the "callus"

Here you can see the "dorsal sepal" (between my fingers)
with the column exposed (showing the pollinia)

Click to enlarge the image.

The dorsal sepal and column of Corunastylis formosa  (???)

This is a significant extension of range(???) for Corunastylis formosa. 
Kangaloon is a long way north from Wadbilliga National Park and also from Cathcart, NSW. Google Maps shows Cathcart is 380 Km south (by road). Wadbilliga NP is 280 Km south from Kangaloon (by road). So this locality record is a significant extension of range for this species.

My friend Martin Butterfield has provided a map to show the relative positions of  Cathcart, Wadbilliga and Kangaloon.

**************

Orchid chasing works best when it is done collaboratively, I find.
So I wish to thank Colin Rowan and Alan Stephenson for discussing the ins and outs of this ID with me, and Alan for providing the text from the Orchadian in which David Jones first described this species. That Journal is not available "on line" unfortunately. Martin Butterfield, who like me, is a plant chaser, and a fellow Blogger, and someone else who lives "in the bush" and so is familiar with the need to help people know where exactly we are talking about, has sent me a map with the three locations for this plant marked.
Thanks everybody.

**************

*** motile: actively moving; self-propelled. (PlantNET)

The labellum of Corunastylis fimbriata "flutters" in the slightest breeze, or if one blows on it. This species (and many others) have a stiff labellum, which does not move.

They're called Sun Orchids for a reason.

After finding the first buds (for this year) of the Thelymitra kangaloonica (Kangaloon Sun Orchid) last week, I have been back four times during the week to check on their progress.

Even though some days were what I would call "watery sunshine", it was not enough to persuade them to open.

Today was perfect. According to the local Rural Fire Service Automatic Weather monitoring station, we maxed out at 22.8 C today (in Robertson) - maybe a few extra degrees down lower, at Kangaloon. It is possibly more important that the Solar intensity was rated as extreme. Clear skies will do that.

Anyway, the plants I had been monitoring all popped their flowers today. One even managed to open 5 flowers on a single day.

Thelymitra kangaloonica growing amongst rushes, in a damp soak.

 The same plants a little closer up.

Thelymitra kangaloonica - the plant on the left opened 5 flowers today.

I have adopted this image as my Facebook Avatar.
I love this plant, and regard it as something of a personal Totem,

When this plant flowers, my heart sings.

It has a mauve back of the flower,

and some of that mauve colour shows on the front too,

but the front is clearly veined with dark blue stripes.

The top of the column (the post anther lobe") is distinctively notched.

The column arms and brushes are pure white.

A fresh flower of Thelymitra kangaloonica.

I guess I feel I have a proprietary interest in this plant

as I managed to nominate it on the EPBC Threatened Species List

and it was listed as a "Critically Endangered Species".

Thelymitra kangaloonica -  nice side view as well as the front view.

 A cropped view of the "column" of this  species.

The yellow "post anther lobe" is very different from the

photos of columns of Thelymitra ixioides I published last week

Column details of Thelymitra kangaloonica

Column arms and brushes of Thelymitra kangaloonica

Side view showing the "brushes" on the column arms.

Here are two generalised habitat views - for Mick 

who always likes to know the habitat where the plants which I show grow.

 The main plants are grasses and rushes.

Some small Melaleucas, Grevilleas and Swamp Grass Trees

A wet soak, part of an "Upland Swamp"on sandstone

In the drier edges of the soak, the Lomandras take over, then Scribbly Gums.

Another encounter with a special Huntsman Spider

I first wrote about this spider in December 2007 - it seems so long ago. Obvious not the same individual - presumably its great, great, great, Grandmother or Grandfather (assuming an annual generation period).

For arachnophobes, I need to give the standard Image Alert - there is a close-up face-to-face view of this spider. True arachnophobes will not have even opened the Blog, I assume.

As happened some four years ago,

I stumbled across this spider hanging upside down

on some swamp grasses and rushes adjacent to Butlers Swamp in Kangaloon.

In the previous case it had just shed its old exoskeleton

and as a result it was just drying itself out, and was reluctant to move.

Its skin was soft and velvety looking.

The previous one i saw was almost green on the back.

But I knew it had just shed its old exoskelton.

In this case I saw no sign of the old skin.

But this chap was definitely reluctant to move.

Huntsman Spider - possibly the Shield Huntsman Spider.

 This spider is not displaying the "shield" or "badge" from which it gets its name. However, it does have the colourful under side, and the bright blue patches in the joints of its legs. 

Knowing how many of the local plants are not well studied, it seems entirely likely to me that this might also be a local species, not yet recorded. or if it is named, it is not well reported in the main literature.

Possibly Shield Huntsman Spider

Here is the scary image warning.

While you are thinking about it. here are some links to follow, to other sites, dealing with the same (or closely related) species.

1. http://www.findaspider.org.au/find/spiders/481.htm
2. http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Badge-Huntsman-Spider-on-twig/
3. http://australianmuseum.net.au/Huntsman-Spiders

 And now on with the next image:

I believe from the palps (the "flaps" either side of the mouth)

this is almost certainly a male.

As close as I dared to go with this Shield Huntsman Spider

Can't Eat Coal, Can't Drink Gas

Dear fellow residents of the NSW Southern Highlands (and Matt Brown MLA).

There will be a large rally in Sydney on Sunday. It will be a really interesting combination of Greens (yes some "Capital G" Greens) and Farmers, and environmentalists and people who just have a grievance with how the State has fared over the last 16 years (mostly dyed-in-the-wool Liberals and National Party supporters).

So there will be something for (nearly) everyone in this rally - from Bankers and Stock-brokers to bushies, the unemployed and the (supposedly) " retired" like me. It will be a group with a common theme - people who love and respect the bush, Nature and the environment.

This rally has been developed by the Lock the Gate Alliance (anti-coal seam gas people), and the peak Environment groups - Nature Conservation Council and many other environment groups.

The organisers of the "Shoo Cockatoo" campaign are going; and so will I.
Caroline Graham from Rivers SOS and I will travel up to there together.
Many hundreds of campaigners from all across the State will be heading to Sydney.

This is not an anti-labor rally, per se.
I prefer to think of it as the first step towards retribution against NSW Labor for the damage they have inflicted over the last 16 years of imbalanced, pro-development, pro-mining favouritism (especially the evil Part 3A legislation). Others will have their personal reasons for attending and waving their placards.

I will be there to try to stand up for the Rivers, and "Upland Swamps" of the Southern Catchment, and the local farmers whose aquifers are still threatened by the risk of mining by Gujarat NRE (not an immediate threat, but a threat none-the-less). Oh yes, I will be there to stick up for the silent threatened species, especially the Orchids, of course, such as my beloved Kangaloon Sun Orchids from Butler's Swamp, Kangaloon (image attached).

Kangaloon Sun Orchid - endangered by the threatened actions of the SCA

My personal motivation is the failure of the Sydney Catchment Authority (and the NSW Water Minister, Phil Costa) to understand the real threat their proposals posed to the Kangaloon Aquifer, and to the local farming community.

Everyone is welcome to join in.
If you cannot do that, at least please take notice of this rally (on the "telly" on Sunday night, and the papers and radio on Monday morning).

And please remember the efforts of the people who are going to Sydney this Sunday, when it comes to casting your vote the following Sunday.

Personally, I am sending this note out not to tell anyone who to vote for - just who I WILL NOT TO VOTE FOR.
The rest is up to you all.
That's democracy in action.

I have copied this note to my local Member Matt Brown MLA,

• Matt you had the chance to avoid this - four years ago when a number of us came to lobby you privately, about the Kangaloon Aquifer. But you chose to ignore us.
• You thought I was a dead set "Greenie". How wrong you were. I was and still am, a genuine Environmentalist. There is a difference.
• I have voted Labor all my life - but I can no longer do so in good conscience - thanks to YOU, Matt, and the NSW Labor Government.

Denis Wilson
Enrolled voter in the Kiama electorate.
Robertson NSW 2577

Attachment from Nature Conservation Council

Dear Friends,

After community action from farmers, conservationists and voters across NSW, both Labor and Coalition are under pressure to deliver this election to protect communities, agricultural land and water from the impacts of coal mining and coal seam gas.

After years of delay, Premier Keneally announced a plan this week to (supposedly) introduce stricter controls on the mining and gas industry, including identification of exclusion zones and banning some toxic chemicals used in coal seam gas extraction.  The Coalition have pledged to protect Dharawal State Conservation Area from mining and create a new national park; and are focusing on impacts to agricultural land and water resources.  

This Sunday, join people from across NSW to send the message home:

Can't Eat Coal, Can't Drink Gas
- NSW Election Rally to protect local communities, agricultural land and water from mining impacts.

When: 12 Midday, this Sunday March 20

Where: Martin Place, Macquarie St end, Sydney.  

Across NSW, communities are organising to protect their health, water, climate and agricultural land.  On Sunday, people will be attending from communities facing new coal seam gas projects at Camden and Gloucester; farmers from the Liverpool Plains stopping the undermining prime agricultural land; citizens from Western NSW tackling the proposed Cobbora coal mine; Southern Sydney and Illawarra local working to protect our drinking water from underground coal mining; and St Peters residents facing off a proposal to extract coal seam gas from under Sydney city.
This Sunday, one week before the NSW Election, join us to make the message loud and clear: "Food before coal. Water before gas.  For our land, our water and our future."
Speakers include:

John Thomson, Broke resident from the Lock the Gate Alliance;
Tim Duddy, Liverpool Plains farmer and independent candidate for the Upper Hunter;
Bev Smiles, Mudgee landholder from the NSW Nature Conservation Council;
Peter Martin, businessman and convenor of the Southern Highlands Coal Action Group;
• Cate Faehrmann, NSW Greens MP and mining spokesperson;
  
Julie Lyford, long term community campaigner and Gloucester Shire Councillor; and
Emceed by Simon Thomsen - restaurant critic for The Daily Telegraph; long-term editor of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide; and a judge on Channel Seven's upcoming Australian Iron Chef series.

This election, demand your politicians put communities ahead of mining profits. 

Cheers,

Holly Creenaune

Outreach Co-ordinator
Nature Conservation Council

Web:  www.nccnsw.org.au/march-20-rally and www.lockthegate.org.au

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=201739353184982

P.S.  Bring your banners, placards, friends and family to stand up for local communities, agricultural land and water at 12 midday this Sunday March 20th at Martin Place, Sydney.

*****

Here follows some useful information regarding arrangements for those going to the Rally being held in Sydney this coming Sunday 20th March.

Buses and parking

• The rally starts at midday at the Macquarie St end of Martin Place
• Best place for letting people out of buses is probably Hospital Road
• The rally will finish at 1 Farrer Place (out the front of Governor Macquarie Tower) at 1:30pm.  Farrer Place meets Young St (at a dead end), Circular Quay is very close, as is Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Macquarie St (Opera House / Botanical Gardens end, that has a lot of bus parking).
• Car parking is expensive, the cheapest by far is at the Domain ($10).  More expensive options and closer options include 131 Macquarie St; 1 Martin Place; the MLC centre 19-29 Martin Place.
• Road closures: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents/stpats_parade_2011_closures.html
• Clearways (ie. can't park here or let down passengers):http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents/stpats_parade_2011_clearways.html
• Traffic arrangements map:http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents/downloads/stpats_parade_2011_map.html