Inverebrates of January

It being warm there are quite a lot of invertebrates around.  Here are some images.  (I'm sure more will be added as the month progresses.)

I was struck by the comment (see below) from Ian Fraser who is being characteristically humble.  To put the knowledge required for invertebrates into perspective a friend who is a very well regarded academic entomologist - no names, no pack drill - commented to me one day:
I stopped being embarrassed about my specialisation when I realised that the family I study contains as many described species as there are birds.  And the geographic distribution is similar.  No-one objects to people studying birds!
I have stressed the word family: my mates area of interest is part of an Order containing 130 families worldwide with some 150,000 species.  Storey and Zborowski give an estimate of over 1 million insect species world wide.  How anyone can keep that lot sorted out - beyond a conceptual level - is a matter for considerable thought (before concluding its impossible).

We have a major plague of Soldier Beetles (Chaulognathus lugubris)
It is interesting that after a couple of days, very hot days, they seem to have taken to hiding under the daisy flowers.  Here is one of them accompanied by a pair of nectar scarabs (family Melolonthinae) which appear to be endeavoring to ensure the continuation of whatever species they may be.
There have been a few flower scarabs (Polystigma punctata) around.
The strange green shape behind it is a soldier beetle!

Other than taking a punt on this being a true bug (Suborder Heteroptera) I'll pass on this one!  But it is attractive.
The next image is a small grasshopper.  I am unsure whether it is a small species or an early instar of one of the regular sized ones of which we have a lot at the moment.
A somewhat larger grasshopper.
Common Grass Blue.
 Imperial Hairstreak (Jalmenus evagoras)
 Meadow argus (Junonia villida)
I also saw some very worn Common Browns, one Australian Painted Lady, a Cabbage White and a Spotted Jezabel.

Continuing my campaign against leg-ism (or possibly octophobia) here is an attractive spider.
Looking through my spider reference it most resembles a Lynx Spider but I couldn't get a clear look at the head so will settle for "spider".

Comments

Sue Catmint said…
love this post. I've started taking photos of insects I see too. Look forward to seeing more from your garden.
12 January 2016 at 17:13:00 GMT+11
Flabmeister said…
Thanks Sue. I'm basically fascinated by the range of shapes invertebrates adopt, so my ionterest is sort of artistic as well as naturalistic.

I generally use Brisbane Insects to try to ID things so as not to pester ento friends too much! Also sundry books!

Martin
12 January 2016 at 18:30:00 GMT+11
Ian Fraser said…
Agreed; I too am consciously taking more invert pics and loving it, though frustrated by the profundity of my ignorance. However there is a surprising amount of help on line (and on my shelves) if I make enough effort.
13 January 2016 at 08:07:00 GMT+11
Flabmeister said…
Thanks Ian. I have responded to your overly modest comment by adding a couple of additional paragraphs to the start of the post.

Martin
13 January 2016 at 09:23:00 GMT+11
sandra h said…
I think you've started something with your insect pics - I too am wandering around the garden regularly with the camera, but IDing all the little beasties is almost impossible
Sandra h
13 January 2016 at 09:53:00 GMT+11
Ian Fraser said…
Thanks Martin, but any modesty I display is rooted firmly in the knowledge that I have much to be modest about...
13 January 2016 at 10:16:00 GMT+11
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