Bug Blitz Trust

I haven't seen a Blue-banded bee in Upper Maffra West for quite a few years. I was lucky to observe this one bedding down for the afternoon on a dead lavender flower. What a way to sleep - head down and eyes wide open. Landcare Victoria West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Western Port Landcare East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Wellington Shire Council

Mother, father and chick. Little Boy spends his time chasing his reflection and guarding the family. Mother almost always has a bug in her beak for her chicks. One of their two chicks, catching a bit of sun, has emerged from their moss cladded nest.

Mole crickets are powerful creatures. With powerful front legs (arms) like Popeye the Sailorman, they dig permanent tunnels. They are omnivores, eatings plant roots and soil invertebrates and they rub their wings to make a whistling sound.

This Superb fairy wren, I call him Little Boy, has been a dedicated father this spring. He and the hen have successfully nested in a Lavender bush near my front window. Whilst nesting over the last three months, he has spent many hours each day attacking his own reflection in my windows. Male wrens are highly territorial.

'Holoplatys' means a long flat shape. The jumping spider below 'Holoplatys' genus was found under bark. Being flat they can hide in crevices and cracks in trees for safety. This beauty was found at San Remo, at the local primary school. Thanks to the South Gippsland Landcare Network, Landcare Victoria and the students and staff at San Remo Primary School.

"It's a long way to the top if ya wanna rock n roll."

Looper caterpillars always amaze people by the way they inch forward, creating loop after loop. They can be however a pest species on fruit trees, crops and vegetables. Loopers belong in the geometrid and noctuid families of moths. They face a battle against pesticides to make it to being a moth. Reducing pesticide use is crucial for biodiversity conservation. Australian Conservation Foundation Sustainability Gippsland Pictured below is a Geometrid moth: Twig looper - Ectropis excursaria

Leaf beetle larvae beefing-up for metamorphosis.

Emperor gum moths/caterpillars are becoming rarer to see. It is thought that European wasps predate these beautiful caterpillars, which is causing a decline in their numbers. This one was found at McClelland Gallery Sculpture Park in 2011. How can we help? Try to control European wasp numbers by exterminating their nests.

Half a dozen free range eggs.

Pobblebonk frogs are breeding well at the Lang Lang Arboretum. This stunning specimen was found by students and returned to the log it was dwelling under. What a beauty!
Tooradin Primary School Lang Lang Primary School Beach Energy Western Port Landcare Bayles Regional Primary School Biodiversity Education And Research - BEAR Australian Citizen Science Association

More creative creatures from the Lang Lang Arboretum field days. Thanks Kate for the workshop. A few favourites.
Lang Lang Primary School Bayles Regional Primary School Tooradin Primary School
Western Port Landcare
Beach Energy

The Prowling spider was found at Connewarre Wetlands. It is one of 15 species of Prowling spiders found in Australia. They are nocturnal hunters and only considered mildly venomous. Known as Miturga's, these spiders are crucial for environmental health. St Joseph's Werribee St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School Wetlands Environmental Taskforce