Inside or out

We have one little spider species that is seen almost on a daily basis, mostly when they come out from behind a picture on the wall where they spend quite some time hiding, when not about hunting dinner.

I have found them difficult to photograph as they are constantly on the move when in the open. Today I found one outside and managed to get it to stay still long enough for a couple of photos.

 It is one of the SALTICDAE family known as jumping spiders and in Australia there are some 76 genera and some 252 described species, this one being Astia hariola with a couple of common names Golden Tailed Jumper or Gypsy Jumper.

They are quite tiny at around 10mm and are fierce hunters and run down their prey rather than building a web.

It is cone of the most common jumpers and is found in Queensland and New South Wales.

Unexpected glider

I had a very unexpected find when I opened the spare parts box that was in our sailing clubs trailer cabinet, a tiny critter with big eyes was staring up at me having been disturbed in its nest.

Not a mouse but the world's smallest glider (marsupial or mammal) a Feathertail Glider Acrobates pygmaeus about 65mm to 80mm in body length, the same in tail length and weighing about 10 to15g.

They are found in Eucalyptus forests down the east coast of Australia where they feed on insects, pollen, seeds and nectar in the tree tops. They are social animals and quite large aggregations of up to 40 individuals have been found feeding in profusely flowering trees.

They nest in tree hollows often with many sharing the same nest, but have also been found nesting on post boxes, plastic bags and as in our case a handy cabinet.

Their tail resembles a feather with stiff hairs horizontally on each side of the tail. 

The gliding membrane extends form the elbow to the knee and enables them to glide up to 25m from tree to tree.

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Not so drab

A flash of yellow as a moth I disturbed in the garden flew past but I noted where it dived to the ground and found it in a small hollow between some rocks.

It was still there when I came back with the camera and was able to get a couple of photos.

It flew off very quickly when I tried to move it for a different perspective so only this for Id purposes.

It took a bit of searching and only the markings on the wings provided the identity as the colouring in resource photos were very different. It is from the NOCTUIDAE family , sub family CALPINAE species Ophiusa tirhoca, Common name, Green Drab.

As you can see this one is quite yellow (wingspan about 5cm) where as the photos were of green through to brown colouring.

The species can be found over many parts of the world from Europe, Africa and Asia as well as most northern areas of Australian States. 

 Quite a varied plant diet for the caterpillars but known to feed on Eucalyptus.

From this to that

Found another caterpillar nibbling away on one of our plants, Grevillea "Honey Gem", but it is one that I know but haven't posted previously. It is the caterpillar of the Pink Bellied Moth Oenochroma vinaria one of the GEOMETROIDEA family.

Posted 31/3/2016

The species is found throughout most of Australia and the caterpillars feed on members of the PROTEACEAE family such as Grevilleas, Hakeas and Banksias

Look at me

Camouflage is not part of this caterpillar's defense, rather if you've got it flaunt it. 

I couldn't help seeing this one as I was doing some tidying up around our banana plants that have a bit of a tangle of Slender Grape Cayratia clematidea vines around them.

This plant seems to be an attractive food plant for a number of moth species (previously posted) but this was a first for me and again tracking the id took some time as the photos I referenced were  not as dramatic in colouring. The colour and patterning  does change quite a bit as the caterpillar develops. The moth (which I haven't seen) is the Impatiens Hawk Moth Theretra oldenlandiae  and as the common name suggests Impatiens are subject to attack as well as Fuchsias so not particularly in favour with gardeners.

The are found throughout most of SE Asia from India to all states of Australia. 

(photo taken with phone and the caterpillar had disappeared by the time I got the camera)

Not a twig

A chance finding of a pair of caterpillars trying to be twigs as they were feeding on the leaves of our peppercorn tree, Schinus molle.

If identifying moths can be difficult it was even more so for these caterpillars, however I think they are the larvae of the guava moth, Ophiusa disjungens, of NOCTIIDAE CALPINAE family. 

As the common name suggests they are regarded as a pest by guava growers and their range is through many of the countries of SE Asia as well as Northern Territory, Queensland and NSW in Australia.