Some issues with identifying invertebrates

While gathering in the washing I found a Weevil lurking on a sheet.  The first issue is to attach a more detailed name to it.
I have attempted to identify it and am reasonably sure it is in the family Curculionidae. According to Zborowski and Storey "This is the largest beetle family in Australia with an estimated 8000 species spread over 668 genera." so it is hardly surprising that I haven't been able to get further.

There are less 'ladybirds" (260 species).  So it would have been good if the following image had been of one!  Unfortunately while the colourful ladybirds are smooth (like this insect) and there are plenty of grey (like this one) ladybirds the grey ladybirds tend to be hairy (NOT like this one).  I ignored that nuance whereas my friend Denis identified - and advised via his comment below - that this is a Gum Nut Leaf Beetle (Trachymela sp).  (Getting back to numbers there are 2250 species of leaf beetles, most of which don't look much like this one!)

I then went to take a photograph of a Dendrobium orchid.  I realise that we purchased this orchid at least 7 years ago but if my memory is correct it was D. kingianum.  (Needless to say, the taxonomists have changed its name in that time but that is not really an issue.)
On looking more closely at the image there was 'something else' there as well.  So I fired up the macro-zoom function and acquired this image.
Obviously there are a whole lot of legs in there, but the real issue is how many entities are there?  By cropping and zooming another image well beyond the quality parameters of my equipment I ended up with
This appears to show wings as well as at least 8 legs on the back part of the invertebrate assemblage.  I thus conclude that a small spider has captured a flying insect that has gone to the flower.  Without a microscope (and some dead invertebrates) there is no chance of identifying them.beyond that level.

Let us finish on a somewhat more positive note.  Using Donald Hobern's site this moth
appears to be a member of Oecophorinae possibly Cosmaresta charaxias or a closely related species.  


Comments

Denis Wilson said…
Hi Martin
Flower Spiders love Orchids, for insects love Orchids too.
Spiders are very patient creatures.
And their patience is al;ways rewarded - eventually.
Re your Beetle, try Gum Nutleaf Beetle - family CHRYSOMELIDAE.
Brisbane Insects and Spiders website (as ever) has a useful "Field Guide" page.
http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_leafbeetles/CHRYSOMELIDAE.htm
Cheers
Denis
24 October 2011 at 11:02:00 GMT+11
Flabmeister said…
Denis

As always a very helpful comment. I agree completely with your ID. The issue which had me concerned with ladybirds was that while the colourful ones are smooth, the grey species are hairy. However the leaf-beetles are grey and smooth and thus resolve the issues!

Martin
24 October 2011 at 20:58:00 GMT+11
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