Wildlife 2007

[mark smyth]

I'll photocopy plans for bat boxes for you. Australia has some cute and ugly bats.

[Paul T]

Mark,

I honestly don't think we get a lot of bats around here, at least I've never heard of anyone finding bats about the place.  Do you think it would be worth setting up a nesting place for them just in case?  It would be SO cool to have some move in.  I have seen on extremely rare occasions bats around the street lights chasing insects, but it isn't something I have seen very often.  Maybe a couple of times in the last 10 years.  Then again it isn't like I exactly go out looking for them.... I don't stand out looking up at the street lights much, or I think they'd lock me away and throw away the key!! 

[Rob]

Paul said ‘We don't have many of the little solitary bees here, although there are a few.’

Here is one from my garden although I didn’t know what sort of bee this was until I looked at images online.

It’s a wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum). The females use the ‘wool’ from plants to line their burrows.

The second photo shows a wasp helping itself to my fruit tree. Is it a German invader as it seems larger than the native wasps?

[annew]

Just been reading the discussion about bat gloves - our local bat workers use very soft golfing gloves, but it's really difficult finding one of each hand, especially in ladies sizes.

[fermi de Sousa]

Mark,
sorry for the delay, but I had to look up the name in a bird book!
It appears to be the "welcome swallow" (not that it's very welcome in our carport!) - Hirundo neoxena.
I thought they might've been barn swallows but apparently these visitors from the Northern Hemisphere down come this far south!
Paul,
if you want some fruit bats please apply to the RBGMelbourne!
cheers
fermi

[Len Rhind]

Hello,
Can anyone tell me what these orange beetles are? (This is my first attempt at attachments so I hope there is a photo.) There are an awful lot of them around -- and soon to be a lot more judging by the goings on. I cannot see any evidence of damage by them but I do not want to assume that this makes them benign. Much appreciated, thanks.
Len

[mark smyth]

They are Soldier Beetles, Rhagonycha fulva
I dont know what they do but they are always about in big numbers at this time of year http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o252-commonredsoldierbeetle.php

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great shots Tom - that Gannet taking off is a beauty !
Thanks

[Maggi Young]

Coincidence there, Len, I saw two of these beetles, similarly engaged, the other day..surprised to hear you have the same beetles in Canada as Scotland!  I didn't know what they were, either! Thanks, Mark!

[Lesley Cox]

They are Soldier Beetles. I dont know what they do but they are always about in big numbers at this time of year

It's pretty obvious what they do Mark.

By and large, they appear to be friendly, pollinating presumably and preying on slugs and snails, flies etc. In general, more good than harm? I haven't seen them in my part of the world.

[Len Rhind]

Many thanks for solving the beetle question Mark. Oddly, they were the photo of the day today (July 26) on my desktop widget for UBC, you can see them here:
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/
So glad they are beneficial too.

[Rob]

Here is a photo of a little bumble bee to go with the wool carder bee I posted earlier in the thread.

[John Forrest]

Lovely bee Rob. They look more cuddly from a greater distance but a bit Quasimodo-ish from close up. Mind you most of us look better from a distance

Come on you bug people. Please put a name to this dragonfly for me. It conveniently settled on the Loosestrife to enhance the photograph but often when I reduce pictures I get a blueish tinge to red/purple flowers, which isn't there on the full size file.

The side view is just for ID help

[John Forrest]

Just found a dragonfly website. Could it be a Common Hawker female?

[Maggi Young]

Haven't a scooby what your gragonfly might be, John.... but what a super photo.... it is so detailed I find myself admiring the beast .... most unusual for me with bugs!!