Sawfly guarding eggs on Rubus nebulosus

Bob McInnes, of REPS, brought me an interesting insect this morning. It is a female Sawfly Philomastix macleaii (apparently renamed Philomastix glabra) which was guarding a set of eggs she had laid on the underneath side of the leaf of the Green-leaved Bramble, Rubus nebulosus, a very sharply thorned Bramble with pinnate (5-foliolate) leaves. The specimen of leaves (and associated insect and eggs) came from Tony and Anna Williams's (not "Windsor" - apology for previous typo) property in Robertson. 

They have a very fine patch of "Cool Temperate Rainforest" on their hill. It differs somewhat from the rainforest in the Robertson Nature Reserve, as it is largely dominated by Lilly Pilly Syzygium smithii and Blackwood Wattle Acacia melanoxylon but their patch of Rainforest has some other uncommon trees, such as the Acronychia oblongifolia and the Black Olive berry (Elaeocarpus holopetalus) and their forest also has many large Birds Nest Ferns. (No doubt there are other differences which I have overlooked.)

The Sawfly is well reported to "guard" its eggs and larvae.
In the case of a closely related species, the guarding behaviour is described as follows.
"Females place their eggs in groups of 30-40 on the leaf underside on both sides of the midvein and later position themselves at the base of the leaf where the larvae feed on, with the head directed towards the stem."
Source: Pergidae of the World : An online catalogue of the sawfly family Pergidae (Symphyta)

That description matches exactly what this insect was doing - guarding her eggs.

Green-leaved Bramble, Rubus nebulosus

Philomastix macleaii female guarding eggs
Note how she is positioned at the 'base" (stem end) of the leaf.
This is to protect the eggs (and subsequently the larvae)
from crawling insects, such as ants.

Note similarities of this image with another image

Philomastix macleaii 

guarding her eggs laid underside of
a Rubus moluccanus.
Similar posture, similar food plant.
Similar appearance, including long yellow antennae.

Philomastix macleaii 
female Bramble Sawfly

Eggs of the sawfly. Philomastix macleaii
Unlike eggs in earlier linked image, these are dark.
presumably well advanced towards hatching,
Check this image of similar purple eggs
of a Raspberry Sawfly.

Females of Philomastix spp. pierce the leaf from above and place the egg on the underside of the leaf (Macdonald & Ohmart 1993). All species of this genus exhibit maternal care. Females stand near their egg mass and young larvae or near the leaf petiole with the head directed to the stem and when disturbed they shake and create a buzzing sound with their wings (Macdonald & Ohmart 1993, Naumann & Groth 1998). This behaviour lasts until they die.
Source: http://www.pergidae.net/philomastix.htm

Click on image to enlarge.
There are tiny cuts in the upper surface of the leaf
presumably each cut relates to where the egg is underneath.
Does she protrude her "ovipositor" through the leaf?
That's the only thing which makes ergonomic sense
otherwise it would require the female to go to both sides of the leaf
and match up the cut with the egg.
Ockhams Razor would rule that out.

Imperial Hairstreak Butterfly in Eucryphia bushes in Robertson

Today I was amazed to find a Butterfly I had read about, but never seen before, in the iconic plant of Robertson, the Eucryphia.

This plant, Eucryphia moorei is also known as "Pinkwood". There are a few growing well in "Pinkwood Park" which is a small park directly uphill past the Post Office, on the Illawarra Highway, Robertson. These young trees are growing well, having been planted there a few years ago, by members of Robertson Environment Protection Society, under the guidance of Dr David Tranter. They are currently in full flower.

The Butterfly I saw is seldom seen
more than 20 metres from a food plant.
In this case an Acacia melanoxylon is visible
in the background of the photograph.

Imperial Hairstreak Butterfly
Jalmenus evagoras
(synonym: Common Imperial Blue)
This pale-looking Butterfly has
blue colourings on the upper side of its wings.
But it also has these strange little protrusions
on the tail ends of its hind-wings.
This is said to be a decoy pattern,.*** 
to make the rear end of the wing
look like the head-end of a different insect

Here you can see the blue patch
on the upper side of the wings.
Males are brighter blue than this (presumed) female

On this shot you can see the
uneven edge to the hind wing
which is said to be part of a decoy pattern
to confuse a possible bird predator.

The fully ripe flower of the Eucryphia,
with dots of pollen grains visible on the stamens.
The sweet perfume of these flowers was very evident
in the warm weather today.

 The first thing I ever heard about these Butterflies is that they have an symbiotic association with Ants. The ants protect the larvae of the caterpillar, in return for obtaining an extrusion from the caterpillar. Normally one would expect the ants to regard the caterpillar as food (prey) rather than a food source. However, in this genus of Butterflies, ants actually protect the caterpillars from wasps and other predatory insects and spiders. This is described as an "ant-related mutualism" and is well described in this brief article.

These Butterflies are very closely associated with plants of the Acacia genus (the food plants of their caterpillars). Robertson is well supplied with Blackwood Wattles, Acacia melanoxylon, a recognised food plant for these insects.

*** Decoy Pattern
The coloured tails of the butterfly look like white-tipped antennae on bright red/orange and black colourings which, with wings folded (the habitual posture) makes the back end of the butterfly look like the front end (the actual head and antennae being quite bland). This is perhaps a decoy perhaps in case of bird strike.
See this photoThat text about the decoy pattern is courtesy of the Butterfly House website.

Lord Howe Island Phasmids visit Robertson

UPDATE:
ABC Four Corners had a brief story on these insects on 22 March 2012.
Scroll through to about 21 minutes into the program, to watch the story.
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/912389

Thanks to my brother Brendan for the tip off.
It is good to see them breeding up so successfully, and for the chance to see them live (even on the Tele).

Denis
26 March 2012

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

 
Several Lord Howe Island Phasmids (Dryococelus australis) visited Robertson last evening. They are an ancient form of "Stick Insect". Phasmid is the scientific term for this class of insects.

Don't worry, Folks - this is not an Extension of Range claim.

These guys were in the hands of a licensed and registered "Recovery Team" member.

A pair of Lord Howe Island Phasmids

Stephen Fellenberg spoke to the Robertson Environment Protection Society last night, about the plight of what has been assessed as the rarest insect on earth. 

a Male Lord Howe Island Phasmid in Stephen's left hand.

This species of Stick Insect was considered likely to be extinct from the 1920s, right through to the 1960s. That claim started to be suspected as not accurate, when several freshly dead specimens were reported by two separate groups of climbers, in 1965 and then again in 1968. These climbers had been climbing Balls Pyramid - the highest volcanic "Sea Stack" in the world. A "Sea Stack" is a near vertical rock emerging from the Ocean. Many are old cliff edge remnants, but this one is of volcanic origin. It is some 23 Kms from Lord Howe Island. 

The Lord Howe Island Phasmid used be common on the main island of Lord Howe Island territory, but after Rats were accidentally introduced (after a shipwreck in 1918), these insects appeared to have been eliminated within just a few short years, They had been exterminated by the Rats - on the main Island. 

They were presumed to be extinct, until the climbers reported finding freshly dead specimens, back in the late 1960s, on Balls Pyramid. But access to Balls Pyramid is severely restricted, (both legally and physically). Several researchers went to Balls Pyramid in 2001, and reported having found eggs, and then a small group of these insects were found under some low Lord Howe Island Tea Tree (Melaleuca howeana) shrubs. 

Head of a Lord Howe Island Phasmid - on the Melaleuca howeana

Hopes then started to rise for the recovery of this species. Another expedition was launched in 2003, and live specimens (2 males and 2 females) were brought back to the mainland, in order to establish a recovery program for the species.

head of the smaller insect, the male Lord Howe Island Phasmid

There are several groups of these insects, alive and some breeding success has been occurring, in the research groups. Presumably there are others still "doing their thing" on Balls Pyramid. One hopes so.

It is listed as "Critically Endangered" under the Federal Environment Protection legislation, and listed as "Endangered" under the NSW Threatened Species legislation, (Lord Howe Island is part of the territory of NSW, administratively.)

front view of female Lord Howe Island Phasmid

You may read more about the history of this insect, its near extinction, and its rediscovery, and its recovery program on the website for "Friends of the Phasmid".

You may read more and see images of Lord Howe Island here.

Wikipedia has good coverage of the geology, history, and ecology of the Island and Balls Pyramid.

 

 

Vale Anders Bofeldt - rare plant specialist - Illawarra

A memorial tree planting service was to be held in Wollongong this morning, to honour the life of Anders Bofeldt - a legend amongst the native plant enthusiasts of the Illawarra Region. 


Unfortunately I never met the man, but I have heard much about him - from the founding members of the Robertson Environment Protection Society (REPS). 


Anders assisted them with plant surveys of the Cool Temperate Rainforest which makes up what is left of the Yarrawa Brush. Although the locals did an enormous amount of researching, physical searching, writing and illustrating to produce that booklet, Anders' authoritative knowledge underpinned the scientific accuracy of the book which became "The Guide to the Yarrawa Brush". It was published by REPS, and is now available on the web.


Anders worked as a botanist at the Wollongong Botanic Gardens. He was a contributer to the Illawarra  Biodiversity Strategy. He also contributed to many Species profiles on the Threatened Species of NSW Plants. He prepared the species list for Bellambi Lagoon. 


This is the cached version of the Funeral notice published by H. Parsons Funeral Directors.
"Taken from us suddenly on June 30, 2011 of Balgownie.  Beloved son of Birgite and the late Leif.  Loved brother & brother-in-law of John and Kim.   Loved uncle of Amielle, Jaylen.  Loving partner of Natalie. Anders will be sadly missed by his loving family and many dear friends here, in Sweden and  New Zealand.
Aged 46 Years.
Anders is now at peace and Forever in our Hearts.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Anders funeral service to be held in the chapel, Parsons Funeral Home, 34 Belmore St Wollongong on Tuesday at 10:00am.   In lieu of flowers donations to Rainforest Rescue Daintree buy- back would be appreciated."

Apparently the ceremony this morning was to include a planting of a "White Beech" Gmelina leichhardtii one of Anders' favourite rare native trees of the Illawarra region. 

Thanks to Nick Rheinberger for broadcasting an interview about Anders this morning on ABC Local Radio 97.3.

Blogging Milestone, or Millstone?

Today I publish my 1000th blog posting.

My favourite photo
Lena had just given me a "welcome back" lick on my nose,
after my extended absence in Canberra, for Chemotherapy treatment.
This image is on my "desktop" on my 'puter.

So, is the one thousandth Blog a milestone, or is Blogging a millstone around my neck? Sometimes I resent the burden of "having to blog" every day, or nearly every day.

But in truth, I find the discipline extraordinarily useful and I am in a sense writing the natural history of the Southern Highlands, day by day, picture by picture. It might never be published as a book, but that probably does not matter, as it is already published (admittedly without the helpful hand of a skillful editor to tell me what to cut out as "rubbish"). But I am confident that there is a lot of information in these 1000 web pages. Hopefully people will find some of it to be useful, informative and even, occasionally, entertaining.

Blogging is also very satisfying, and for me, it is much better than a personal "diary", because I am basically a communicator. Hopefully I fulfill a role, also, as an educator, and a part-time entertainer.

I know that a lot of people read my writings or have looked at some of the 3750 photos I have published since I started out on this little adventure.

The nature of Robertson Site Summary
VISITS
	Total	80,691
	Average Per Day	148
	Average Visit Length	1:23
	Last Hour	6
	Today	138
	This Week	1,035

I started on 26 November 2005, approaching 4 years ago.
That is 1435 days, so I am averaging a post on just a fraction under 70% of days - better than 2 days out of 3.

This image shows Zoe standing in the yard below my house,
on 17 May 2004, the day when we planted
all those Wattle Trees as a wind break.
My how things have changed since then.

I must say a word of thanks to Anni, without whose encouragement and assistance I would never have started blogging. She hosts my "Peony Diary", in fact she started it for me, in my absence in hospital, so I could see what was happening with my Peonies, while I was away from Robertson. How generous was that?My first post, and a very experimental one it was, was entitled "Odd little things which grow around Robertson", and it was about an Orchid - the Flying Duck Orchid, in fact.

My first "lucky shot"
This was the first image I took in which I realised
after I had developed it on the computer,
that I had captured something unexpected.
In this case, a flower spider inside her web, inside a Flying Duck Orchid.
She is waiting to catch an insect attracted to the Orchid.My second Post was entitled: "And what's this about Peonies?"

I note that from the statistics on the "labels" (prior to tonight) I have referred to Robertson 323 times; Kangaloon 167 times (that would be about friends of mine who live there, or the Waratahs and other interesting native shrubs which grow there, or about Orchids, for which the area is justifiably famous); Ground Orchids 117 times, birds 97 times; the SCA 92 times (of which 91 would have been somewhat critical, or negative, but I do remember saying something nice about them once!); I have mentioned the Sandstone cliffs and the underlying sandstone soil structure of the area 58 times; I have written about the Community Technology Centre at Robertson (the CTC) 47 times; I have written about Fungi 35 times; moths 26 times; fog (in Robertson) 22 times; and I have referred to my nemesis in the bush, the Leech, 7 times.

I have frequently written about the social and environmental events which occur in Robertson. In this case, the naming of the Laurence Langley Memorial Redwood Grove (in Robertson). A team of volunteers (as usual) from REPS, helped cut back a lot of privet bushes and also erected the memorial sign.

Another feature of the social life of Robertson is the Robbo Show,
and so also is the irrepressible Taz, with Lena.
Lena is wearing a Show Ribbon which she did nor really earn.
But that's all part of fun of the "Kids and Pets Parade" at the Robbo Show.
When out in the bush I occasionally find an interesting insect,
and if I have been lucky enough to get a good photo I will publish it.
My personal nemesis - in the bush - a Leech.

I love fungi, and this image, and logo, is as close as I go to declaring a position on "creationism". I am NOT a creationist, but I do have a great sense of Wonder, triggered by what I cannot help as see as fantastic impulse within Nature to solve problems by means of wonderfully elegant design solutions - such as this gorgeous little Fungus (the size of my little fingernail).
The Blind Watchmaker theory does not satisfy my need to understand Nature.
I do not believe in the great Bearded Designer in the Sky either.

Instead I look at Nature with a sense of Awe. It makes me wonder why is Nature so beautiful? Does that make me a "Pantheist"? I truly do not know, but I do tend to see God in Nature, and Nature is all around me.

Wikipedia's article on Pantheism concludes with these comments:
"some pantheists hold that the pantheist viewpoint is the most ethical viewpoint; Neo-Pantheistic ethics are based on the belief that any action initiated resonates throughout all of existence. What is good and evil is not mandated from something outside of us, but is a result of our interconnectedness. Instead of consideration based upon fear of divine punishment or hope of divine reward, the better Pantheistic ethical decision comes from an awareness of mutual interrelation."

Certainly, when I look at what I believe to be going wrong with the World (I mean - politically) I can ascribe that to a breakdown of "awareness of mutual interrelation". In my mind, that applies as much to day-to-day politics as to the Natural Order of things.

But I can console myself, when nobody listens to me, that, at least there are orchids to admire!

The Wingecarribee Swamp collapse - 10 years on.

Dr David Tranter spoke at REPS tonight, to remind us that it is 10 years since the collapse of the Wingecarribee Swamp.

Floating islands of dislodged peat and vegetation
in the Wingecarribee Reservoir

The swamp had been mined for peat since 1967. The lease had expired in 1992, but mining continued. The renewal of the lease was eventually reviewed by the Mining Warden Inquiry. the renewal was opposed by Sydney Water Corporation, the Environment Protection Authority, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW), the then Department of Land and Water Conservation, the Royal Botanic Gardens (Sydney), the NSW Heritage Council, the Australian Heritage Commission, and the Wingecarribee Shire Council. Other volunteer environment groups including REPS, the National Parks Association were also involved in arguing the case against the renewal of the mining lease before the Mining Warden's Inquiry. This was a very intense and closely argued case, thanks mainly to the action of lawyers for the proponents who set out to ridicule the expert opinions of geologists and environmentalists who argued against the renewal of the Lease.

The Mining Warden was in the process of writing up his findings when the Wingecarribee Swamp collapsed.

"The Barrage" - a wire and steel containment system
designed to keep the peat islands from floating
further out into the Reservoir, and potentially blocking the sluice gates.

A huge "rainfall event" occurred on 7 August 1998. Some 200 mm of rain fell in 24 hours, mostly in a single morning. Events like this had occurred previously (in 1991) without any similar collapse - but in this case, the mining of peat had greatly increased prior to the collapse. This had changed the water level within the peat, and, in turn this allowed the peat to dry out. Also there was a physical weakness in the peat, along the line where the dredging had occurred. This combination of circumstances caused the relatively dry peat to "float like a cork" when the rain occurred, as a huge upwelling of groundwater from the Kangaloon Range above the swamp occurred underneath the body of peat. The body of peat floated and in the process dislodged the dredge, which itself floated from its moorings, and tore a line through the peat, as it floated down through the swamp and out into the Wingecarribee Reservoir.

The rest is history. In due course, the Mining Warden handed in his report granting the renewal of the lease. The applicant had won the case, but by then the swamp had been irreparably damaged, and the mining had been abandoned. You can read all about this in the detailed website by Prof. Sharon Beder, and sponsored by REPS.

The Sydney Catchment Authority, which was formed after the Ghiardia and Cryptosporidium scare in Sydney, was given responsibility for the Wingecarribee Reservoir (and Swamp - in joint management with the NPWS). Since the collapse of the Swamp, they have spent a large amount of money on consultants reports, which has indeed confirmed the advice which was freely given to the Mining Warden's Inquiry by Professor Emmett O'Loughlin (but rejected by the Mining Warden at the time).

Now the SCA is paying to try to repair the damage to the body of the swamp caused by the loss of integrity of the peat, when it floated out into the water of the Reservoir, exposing (behind it) disturbed areas of the original dense mass of peat, which had been covered originally by dense growth of reeds and sedges. Chunks of dry peat are still evident in the privately owned farmlands adjacent to the swamp - light and dry and no longer forming part of the original swamp. Damage like this cannot be recovered.
The opened surfaces where the reeds and sedges were disturbed were colonised by seed from Willows from upstream. Now vast numbers of young Willows (mostly Pussy Willows) are growing madly in the swamp. Some are out in the floating islands of peat - but mostly they are taking over in the top end of the swamp where the peat was also disturbed by being lifted in the "floating" process, and being cracked. Out in the swamp, one finds small islands of raised vegetation, with deep cracks between, where there is exposed water at about 1.5 metres lower than the tops of these little islands. It is along the sides of these little "islands", where the raw peat was exposed, where the willows have taken root. Workers are paid to cut and paint the Willows with RoundUp Bioactive, however, I fear they are fighting a losing battle.
This is a StoneFly, a water-loving insect which spends its immature phases as an aquatic insect, but then matures as a flying creature, as here seen on a TeaTree bush growing adjacent to the Wingecarribee Swamp. I had never seen this insect before this chance encounter.

Tadpoles (and Willows) in the creek adjacent to the Wingecarribee Swamp.

The RoundUp which the SCA contractors use is designed to be non-toxic to insects and frogs in wet environments - which judging by the huge populations of frogs, insects and snakes in the environment close to the Wingecarribee Swamp itself, is a good thing. We wish them all well, for the "Swamp Rats" (as they term themselves), have a huge and difficult job to do.

REPS regeneration of Caalang Creek bears results

Members of REPS have spent several years planting Lomandras along Caalang Creek, near the bridge on Caalong Street, on the edge of Hampden Park. These are the rush-like plants which have grown well to produce dense groundcover beside the creek, adjacent to the Robertson Community Centre.

Yesterday, when attending the Robertson Garden Club meeting, I noticed as I walked from my car to the centre, that there was a Lewin's Rail (Lewinia pectoralis) browsing around the edge of these Lomandra plants. I have not previously seen these birds in Robertson, but it is not exactly surprising. They are a secretive wading bird - they love to hunt for insects in and around reeds and rushes, near wetlands. As I was going to the Garden Club meeting, I did not have my camera with me, unfortunately.

Lewin's Rail
Photo courtesy of Melbourne Water website.

The point of this story is a bit like the American Baseball movie "Field of Dreams". I saw that movie, years ago, and the only line I remember is this: "If you build it, he will come". Well, REPS have built an environment, and now the Lewin's Rail has come to the middle of Robertson.

As I was saying before, I have not seen these birds here before, but I have previously seen a related bird, the Buff-banded Rail, out on McGuinness Drive, and I have recorded Snipe at several local swamps. Of course, the Wingecarribee Swamp is a mere 3 Kms away, downstream from the bridge over the Caalang Creek, and there is another swamp on Caalang Creek, higher up in the centre of the village, at the end of Main Street. There is an excellent wet swamp on private land on Tourist Road. So, it is not an unusual record, but it is worth noting.

More to the point, it will give heart to the REPS volunteers that the birds are taking notice of their creekside habitat regeneration work. Where previously there were weeds, Blackberries and some willows, now there is a creek bank with Lomandras and Tea-Tree Shrubs and now the Lewin's Rail.

Rain and hail drown the Giant Earthworms

Robertson was hit by heavy rain again today. Indeed, just outside of Robertson, on the top of the Jamberoo Road, there was a heavy hail storm. To read Greg's first-hand report on the hail at his place, click here. I heard about this in the morning, and was surprised to find patches of iced-up hail still lying beside the road, 5 hours later. As this photo was taken a few hundred metres from the "Robertson Pie Shop" (which is the Bureau of Meteorology's official weather station for Robertson), it is likely that the 23 mm of rain reported so far today is an understatement, as the hail would almost certainly have blocked the rain gauge. I shall ask around tomorrow for other local rainfall records. This ice had not melted despite 2 hours of heavy rain after the hailstorm.

During the heavy rain, I rang David and he invited me around to his place to check out the Orchard Swallow-tailed Butterfly Caterpillars we had seen previously. When the rain eased, briefly, we went out to check on their growth. When seen previously (on 19 January) these guys were half-grown and brown and white coloured. The bird-dropping disguise. They have now grown to nearly full size. Now, as you can see this is one fat caterpillar, and it is armed with spiky protuberances.

Indeed, when alarmed it can do this!

That is a stunning display, and, if you check back to the top photo, you will see that those glands were not present, or not visible. The red glands appeared suddenly, when I lifted the leaf on which the caterpillar was feeding to take a close-up photo. Bingo, this is what I was presented with. I was impressed, and I am sure a "predator" would also have been "warned off". In fact those glands can produce a strong-smelling liquid (although it did not squirt me).

The front-on view of a caterpillar is not often seen as clearly as this. So lets have a close look. You can see a really clear, but accurate diagram of the body parts of a caterpillar, at the Chew Family's website on the Insects of Brisbane. That illustration is based upon a caterpillar of this species. That illustration will help you locate some of the named parts I am about to mention.

The creamy coloured "face" has an inverted V shape. Either side of the lower end of the V marks are small brown points, which are the eyes of the caterpillar (called "Stemmata") . There are apparently 6 tiny eyes, located together, on each side (I could not see that detail - that's where biologists come in handy, to explain things in fine detail for us). I can see where these eyes are, however.

The mouth is the "raison d'etre" for a Caterpillar, so it is very highly developed. Indeed if you have ever read to children, the wonderful book by Eric Carle, called the Very Hungry Caterpillar, you will know that all they do is eat!

Check this article in Wikipedia, on the mouth parts of chewing insects. The caterpillar's mouth parts consist of "mandibles" (jaws, used for cutting and chewing food) and maxillae (the hairy organs below the jaws, used for directing the chewed food into the mouth) and "palps" (which according to the Macquarie dictionary, are sense organs), so that the Caterpillar can feel what it is eating. Just as well, as it probably cannot see so close in front of its face.

Incidentally, "Osmeterium" (well, "osmeteria" probably) is the name for the pair of glands on the forehead. These are specific to caterpillars of the Swallowtail group of Butterflies (which includes the Orchard Butterfly). These glands can be "everted" (the word for when an internal organ is turned outwards, as required), when the animal is threatened.
In this subsequent photograph, this second caterpillar was apparently happily walking along the Lemon Tree leaf, but with these glands fully extended. So, he was still saying "beware of me".

And now to a Giant Earthworm (possibly Notoscolex grandis) I found today, at the wonderful lookout at Lee's Road, on the very edge of the Illawarra Escarpment. The worm was flooded out of its burrow. It had come out, and was lying in a puddle, so I rescued it (hopefully) by putting it back into some soil, and covered it over with leaves, to give it some chance of surviving. This one is at least 200 mm long (about 8 inches long). My camera lens cap covers a 62mm lens, and is therefore slightly larger than that. Of course, this worm when fit and healthy can stretch itself much longer than it is in this situation, when it was nearly drowned, and (to use an ugly word) quite "flaccid". It is the largest Earthworm I have found, since my time in Robertson. Greg found one at his place a few days ago - probably in the same situation as this one, nearly drowned.
The article by R J Blakemore linked above is published originally in Eucryphia (the magazine of the Robertson Environment Protection Society). It is apparent that there are many species of giant earthworms in the Robertson area.

Coal problems - mining, "Clean Coal", etc

Tonight the local Environment group (REPS) had a meeting addressed by Julie Sheppard and Caroline Graham, of the Rivers SOS group speaking about the damage done to the rivers by coal mining. Their primary issue is "subsidence" resulting in cracking of the beds of rivers. This has been caused by "longwall mining" underneath the Sydney Water Catchment's "Special Areas".

Rivers have died. I have seen this with my own eyes.
Tonight Julie and Caroline showed us pictures from the Nepean, Cataract, Georges Rivers and the Waratah Rivulet (part of the Woronora River catchment). They also showed us the short film "Rivers of Shame".This whole issue has recently been debated in front of an "Inquiry into the Southern Coalfields"
Lets hope something useful comes about, as a result of their deliberations.

It is an appalling indictment of the NSW Government, and particularly the Mining Department and the Department of Planning, which have approved these disastrous mining techniques to be used, under the Rivers which are the catchment for Sydney's water supply.
When the estimated 91% of the Catchment has been undermined (estimated at some 20 years), what will Sydney do for water, then?It is crazy to trade off short term profits (from coal) for perpetual loss of water. In every sense it is uneconomical, and environmentally irresponsible.

It has taken some 400 million years to develop the Woronora (Illawarra) Plateau which we know as the Sydney Water Catchment. We are trading this off, for 20 years of profit. How stupid is that?

*****

Tomorrow, Climate Action Now (Wingecarribee) will host the Walk Against Warming, in Bowral. This event has been originated by GetUp, and CANWin is participating (but doing it on the Saturday, not the Sunday. This event will gives us the opportunity to help bring public attention to issues to do with so-called "Clean Coal", and Global Warming, Climate Change, as well as the damage to rivers which we have just been discussing tonight.

Waratahs flower for Springtime in Robertson

Today the Springtime in Robertson festival was launched.

The Robertson Heritage Railway Station hosted the first events, on the Robertson Common, with a series of displays from admirers of vintage motors, model rail enthusiasts, the Robertson Environment Protection Society people, and a floral art display (featuring Waratahs).

Here is Peter Vaughan, the local mechanic, and enthusiast for vintage motors, (who mercifully was able to replace my own car's water pump, last week). Peter is very proud of this little motor, which, powers a pump, although such a motor might well be used to power other devices, via a belt drive.On the left of this photo (below) is Robert Randall, (a backhoe operator) who I met before I even moved to Robertson. Robert helped me choose the land where I settled in Robertson, based upon the quality of the soil. I had told Robert I wanted deep red soil, and he guided my choice between a range of possible sites. I trust Robert's judgement, because he has worked with the soil (and rock) in Robertson, all his adult life.
Robert and Peter, along with some of the local farmers, are proudly keeping alive a tradition which transformed the face of rural Australia. Whether or not you approve of how the country has been transformed, there is something marvellous about these old motors. I am particularly fond of the relatively slow pace at which these motors turn. Somehow, it is both powerful and safe - safe in the sense that they could be operated at speeds closer to that at which humans operate.The largest motor on display today (above) bears this plate proclaiming it as Austral Oil Engine No. 4751. It was manufactured by Ronaldson Bros and Tippett Pty Ltd, Ballarat, for Moffatt Virtue Ltd, Sydney. Judging by the number of responses I got from a simple Google Search, and the number of photos on the link I have inserted (above) there are many lovers of these old engines.
And now let us go back to the Waratahs of Robertson. I strongly believe that the town of Robertson ought become known as the town of Waratahs, for we do them better than just about anywhere that I know of. Let me hasten to add that, as regular readers will know, Robertson is on rich red basalt soil, and so, while Waratahs grow close by, naturally - at Kangaloon and Belmore Falls and Carrington Falls, (on the sandstone soil) they do not naturally occur in Robertson. This area originally was covered in dense rainforest, which is so dense it excludes Waratahs. But, when planted in this soil, the Waratahs thrive.

Dr David Tranter, is the pioneer of Waratah growing in the local area.

David has a preference for the form of the NSW Waratah - the true species, that is (Telopea speciosissima), of which these flowers (below) are an example. For the perfect flower, David far prefers plants of the true species. The large bracts surrounding the flowers are diagnostic, as are the serrated leaves.But David has also planted around Robertson hundreds of specimens of the modern hybrid varieties of Waratah which have been introduced into cultivation. David explained to me today, he prefers to grow the Hybrid Waratah "Corroboree" in Robertson, as a garden plant - by which he means a plant grown for its overall effect in the garden, rather than a plant grown for the perfect form of individual flowers. It is a hybrid between the NSW Waratah, and the southern NSW species, Telopea mongaensis.

Despite David's demurring about the less than perfect form of many of these hybrid Waratahs, some of them produce wonderful specimen flowers.

A near-perfect flower of Waratah "Corroboree"

This stem is a good example of the floriferous nature of the modern Hybrid Waratahs. This is "Corroboree", but the varieties called "Shady Lady" or the newer "Red Shady Lady" are very similar to this plant in habit and flower form. They are the result of a cross with the Victorian species Telopea oreadesDavid Tranter is largely responsible for the many Waratahs planted in the public areas around Roberson, such as at the Robertson Common, and across the Railway line, and at Hampden Park, along Caalang Creek, and at the newly developed Pinkwood Park.

For full impact as a garden or Public Park planting, the hybrid Waratah, such as this specimen of the cultivar "Corroboree", is surely hard to beat. This is one of many wonderful specimens planted in Pinkwood Park, in Robertson, by David Tranter and other members of REPS, which organisation has operated as the custodian of this Park. They are to be found opposite the Post Office, on Hoddle Street, up towards the top end of town.