Anthelid-Day

I’m an Australian photographer and nature observer who loves to take photos of insects and spiders and learn about them. Follow me on a learning journey! Instagram: anthelid.day

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Hey all! How have you all been?

I’ve been great over here, though the weather has been freezing and, at times, raining.

The last week, I’ve been putting energy into creating the YouTube Shorts to get my channel off the ground.

I’m planning to do 1 video a week and, if this goes well, I may be able to pursue this more often with more life balance and contribute more to observations.

I hope you get a chance to check out Anthelid-Day on YouTube, and if you don’t, that’s okay too!

You can still enjoy my posts here as I’m not going anywhere.

Have a fabulous weekend!

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I have peer pressured myself (in the best way) to begin creating something I’ve wanted to do for a while but always put off because of other life commitments, but I need change that prioritises things that make me feel happy in how I contribute to humanity in my life (like this blog!).

So… I made a YouTube channel and I’m going to create little short videos about bugs, arachnids, the bushwalking trails I explore, and the little worlds that we often walk past!

I spent 3 hours last night putting together a cute intro and everything that you can watch on my channel!

You can find this brand new channel on YouTube at Anthelid-Day (linked below). I look forward to seeing you all there and sharing more of the bug world around us all!

https://youtube.com/@anthelid-day?si=EwLeVQ88GZvBHJ5V

Anthelid-Day

A channel dedicated to the exploration of insects and arachnids through videography and photography. Discover the wonders of the tiny world

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This Ommatius Coeraebus had caught a small flying insect.

Location: Base of Mt. Gulaga

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As we were coming back down the mountain, my husband was so excited to find his own “bird poop” spider, which made him double-take! It was sitting on a leaf lower to the ground, and we would’ve missed it if we weren’t actively looking for little critters to photograph.

This spider was estimated to be “Speechley’s Arkys” and the finds seem to be restricted to the East Coast of Australia.

At one point I had gotten too close, and it JUMPED! It suddenly pounced away from the leaf but hung below it on its web until it deemed us “not dangerous”. It then came back to the exact spot it had set up to pretend to be poop on, marked by some white residue-webbing that sold the illusion.

I think it is really amazing how it adapts itself, and seemingly knows what it should look like to be bird poop. I’m going to do some more reading on these incredible spiders!

Location: Mt. Gulaga, Far South Coast NSW.

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This beautiful weevil is from Genus Talaurinus, and was quite a decent size! It carried on eating on this plant even while I took photos and video. In the video, you can audibly hear the chomping. (Will post video later)

Everything about this beetle was built to be powerful, from its legs to its chompers. It must have felt powerful too as it didn’t mind me hovering over it.

I adore weevils and so to see a big one was super exciting!

Location: Mt. Gulaga, Far South Coast NSW

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This tiny baby is very blurry. I was only able to get some things in focus but not others.

Why? Because this baby with the face of a double-decker bus was too busy exploring and couldn’t give a hoot that I had a blog I wanted to show them off on.

But this tiny little jumping spider is on my blog anyway, because it took a lot of effort to even get the photos I could and I admired how it really didn’t seem to be all that bothered by me. I love that, they’re their own spider and they’re on a mission!

Not sure what type of jumping spider it was, but it was the least curious of all I’d encountered previously.

Location: Mt. Gulaga, Far South Coast NSW.

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I am back! After COVID I had this light-sensitivity thing so while I was trying to settle back into work (in a very bright location) so it took me time to adjust.

This was a beetle I found on Mt. Gulaga, which I believe is a Sastragala Versicolor. I loved how bright they were and their texture looked both delicate and strong at the same time. The iNaturalist app only shows these being located very tightly around the east coast of Australia.

The little green heart though!

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Hello all! I’ve come back to Canberra after having time on the coast and have photos still to upload of some wonderful little creatures we found.

When I came back, I finished a painting that I created for an upcoming art competition and started to feel quite sore. I thought it was because I went from a lot of outdoor activities, like climbing mountains, to being a prawn over a painting which can create body aches.

This morning I woke up feeling quite rotten and my whole body felt stiff and sore. Testing confirmed the ‘VID. Forgot that it was still a thing that can happen! For now I feel exhausted and rotten but will find strength to get some photos up.

I spoke with a ranger on Mt. Gulaga when we were last travelling up there, and asked if they had a species list for the mountain and, while he said he thinks there may be one for the wider area, the mountain may not have one. Though I live interstate, he’s pointed me in the direction of who to ask to compile one and so I’ll reach out and see what I can do. I think species lists are a fun thing and I know we have them for Canberra national parks here, though those do incorporate the wider areas and not just a single mountain.

Perhaps the wider area is enough? I’m not sure. It’d certainly be a very fun side project.

Hope everyone is well, and I look forward to updating soon!

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Update: I suspect this is an Arkys Transversus spider, but happy to take suggestions!

I couldn’t tell what this was at first, but this turned out to be a spider! This spider did its best to camouflage on the leaf, though its different colour and symmetry did catch my eye. I suppose it could be initially mistaken for bird poop.

There is still some reading I’m going to do to pinpoint the exact spider this is, but I think it may be an orb weaver or bird-dropping spider of some kind. Will update soon!

Location: Mount Gulaga, Far South Coast NSW.

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Hi there!

A cute jumping spider looks curiously at the camera. It scuttles off soon after, as the camera likely looked quite large and imposing… Sorry, little floof!

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If you are on Instagram and see some familiar photos on this account, don’t worry! It is me!

I have an Instagram account on Instagram and if you have a bug blog on there too, let me know! I’d love to follow your blog too!

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A tiny caterpillar under a leaf, peering out and saying “hi”!

Not sure which moth it belongs to, but an adorable addition to the day, regardless.

Location: Mount Gulaga, NSW Far South Coast

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A camouflaged Rhytiphora Nigrovirens seemed to be clinging tightly to a small twig of a tree, its wings matching the greens. As a result, I nearly missed this completely!

Upon inspection, its eyes are above and below its antennae (which seem to make a C-shape around them). The antennae act like spider legs that touch you if you pat them (yes, I booped it). I am unsure if that is its intention or only my own perception.

Location: Mt. Gulaga, Far South Coast NSW.

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Today I climbed some of Mt. Gulaga on the NSW Far South Coast, and came across this gorgeous beetle that I’m pretty sure is an Antestiopsis Cededwaldi!

Its gorgeous blues outlined with yellow reminded me of jewels with some Art Nouveau vibes, which contrasted beautifully against its green backdrop.

Location: Gulaga National Park, near Tilba Tilba NSW.

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I’ve got some Annual Leave!

During this leave, I’m going to go to Mount Gulaga on the NSW Far South Coast and try to find the spider that looked like a broken mirror that I encountered a few years ago (photos earlier in my blog).

I look forward to filling my days with finds and nature!

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I have been sent to Newcastle for work, and it’s beautiful here. There is a lot of greenery and I’m sure, if given the chance, I’ll find beautiful bugs here.

Unfortunately, I am only here to work and have had no time to go find them, and my train back leaves at 3am. But I’m certainly going to be making a bucket list of places to travel this year to find bugs (fuel crisis pending).

Currently, I have:

• Blue Mountains (where I grew up and discovered my love of bugs)

• Newcastle

• Cairns (because I saw a pretty big millipede there, and I love those!)

I think 3 places is a good start. Let’s see how it goes!

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I’m still here! I had a long work week. We’re having storms in the area on and off, so I’m going to upload some photos I caught last Saturday.

The fuel crisis has also meant that we are reducing our trips out to the national parks, so I’ll be trying to find insects within the city areas.

How is everyone doing? Tell me about your favourite critters and why they’re your favourite! I wish to talk more to everyone.