Well named

After a disastrous summer with drought and bushfires we have had a flooding February and the rainfall for the month, 298mm, is almost up to half of what our total rainfall was last year. The wildlife was adversely affected by the drought and we had a very noticeable drop in the numbers visiting and even many that we would see regularly moved away looking for more favourable locations. 

Fortunately the rain has vegetation again growing, plants flowering and with plentiful water available, our wildlife is coming back.

Today we had visits from a butterfly species that is normally found north of here and that makes its name very appropriate, Lemon Migrant, Catopsilia pompona pompona.

They are quite common in the northern Australian region and we are at the southern edge of their range. 

The one in the photo stopped for a rest on a cycad just outside the office and I was able to get the photo through the window which affected the quality but when I went outside to get a better shot it was gone.

The larvae feed on many species in the cassia family both. native and introduced.

Potter at work

Found a potter hard at work yesterday filling in a gap alongside the door as an ideal spot to place eggs and the food for the young.

It is one of the Potter Wasps of the family Vespidae, species a bit uncertain but think Pseudabispa Black-head mudwasp. It looks similar to the Large Potter Wasp but is much smaller and builds a much smaller mud structure.

The potter wasps are solitary and feed on flowers but prey on caterpillars as food for their young when they hatch.

Red Eye Special

Finally we have had some rain after the driest year  only having half our annual rainfall in  the 25 years I have been recording. The land is suffering and the wildlife numbers well down as they moved away looking for better conditions elsewhere.

We have been fortunate to not have the devastating fires in our area but I have been busy with our brigade working on fires in the wider region. The recent rain has been a welcome break and already things are on the improve with more wildlife moving back, hopefully the rain pattern continues.

Last night we had a visitor attracted by the light and I thought it was a moth that I hadn't seen before but on a closer look found it was a butterfly that I hadn't seen before.

I identified it as a female Common Red Eye or Eastern Dusk Flat, Chaetocneme beata and as is common with this genus they usually fly at dusk (this one was still flying late in the evening). Of the four Australian species found in Australia this is the only one found south of Queensland, with its range from tropical Queensland to just south of Sydney.

The larvae have been found to feed on introduced plants custard apple and camphor laurel as well as native food plants including Tristania and Acmena.

 

Fantail splashes

We had a visit from a pair of birds that we see infrequently as they are generally found norh of our area but do migrate to southern regions through summer. It is also found in a number of countries in the near north of Australia. This pair were around the garden for a short time in the morning and making the most of the bird bath for a drink and then a splash.

As you can see from the photo the name Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons is most appropriate and it is one of the small flycatchers. Its relative the Grey Fantail is one of the resident species on the property.

 

Bee shines

Posted a photo of this species some time ago but the photo today does show the iridescent colour better.

This large bee is one of the carpenter species Xylocopa (lestis) bombylans  Green or Peacock Carpenter Bee.

Found in eastern Australia they are solitary bees and as their name suggests work in wood, as the excavate a tunnel into the trunk of soft dead trees or the stem of grass trees to lay their eggs.