bug life

27, Aus science major/bug nerd

[aussiebuggirl]

Been seeing so many Christmas beetles this year! So obviously I've been collecting them and pinning them to give as gifts this christmas

[aussiebuggirl]

Just two butterflies doin like they do on the discovery channel

[viralfrog]

[aussiebuggirl]

Just a girl, documenting her bug stuff on tumblr

[ljsbugblog]

its been about a year since I last saw an Austracantha, and I was beginning to think they wouldn't appear where we now live, surrounded by pastureland with few tall trees suitable for orbweavers. I'm glad this small lady proved otherwise!

Jewel orbs are always a delight to find. being so small (females no larger than 12mm, and males about 5mm) but adorned with such intricate patterning, and of course their characteristic arrangement of six large spines on the abdomen, they certainly live up to their namesake.

a melanistic form of these spiders can appear in autumn which looks absolutely stunning, so I plan to put a lot of effort into finding one over the next few months!

Jewel Spider, female (Austracantha minax).

[aussiebuggirl]

Spood

[aussiebuggirl]

Weevil dude

[aussiebuggirl]

Beetle

[aussiebuggirl]

Caterpillar hoard

[aussiebuggirl]

Striped Hawk Moth - Hyles livornicoides

Bowral, Australia 1.3.24

[aussiebuggirl]

Sleepy boi

[aussiebuggirl]

Red velvet mite - Trombidium family

Wedderburn, NSW, 2 May 2023

[aussiebuggirl]

Rhinoceros beetle - Xylotrupes Ulysses

Pottsville, Aus, 13/1/24

Rhino Beetles are said to be the strongest animals on the planet. They are able to lift up to 850 times their own body weight. That's like a human lifting up four double-decker buses filled with passengers.

[aussiebuggirl]

Brown stag beetle - Rhyssonotus nebulosos

When the male has found a female, he lifts his head, opens his antlers wide and walks around her, showing himself off. If two males are interested in the same female, they will fight each other, using their antlers like a male deer. The stronger of the two turns the other onto his back and the loser retreats.

[aussiebuggirl]

Dung beetles - Onitis aygulus

Bargo, NSW, 26 Nov 2023

Dung beetles are beetles that feed on feces. Some species of dung beetles can bury dung 250 times their own mass in one night

[aussiebuggirl]

Stick insect

The world's longest insect. The largest one ever found stretched 22 inches with its legs extended. (Most are only up to 12 inches long.)

[aussiebuggirl]

Yellow-headed Snail Parasitic Blowfly - Amenia imperialis

NSW, Aus, 6 Jan 2021