Wildlife Autumn 2007 (spring wildlife Down Under)

[Anthony Darby]

Here is a link to Actias lunahttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Luna_moth01_800x600.jpg and a link to A. sinensis http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.insectes.org/base/tbl_elevage/00/00/00/57/principale_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.insectes.org/question/fiche_elevage.md%3Fcle_elevage%3D87&h=359&w=207&sz=53&hl=en&start=9&um=1&tbnid=Hrb65q9EmwvTHM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=70&prev=/images%3Fq%3DActias%2Bsinensis%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN. Male and female luna are very similar, but sinensis is sexually dimorphic.

[Paul T]

Lesley and John et al,

As requested, here's some pics of the Echidna.  As you can see, somewhat more substantial and a much darker colouration than Fermi's one.  Could be age or subspecies difference between our areas.  Mine definitely does not have as pronounced a head, even when it was wandering off later on.  The first pic shows the front arrangement of the spines plus one of the feet as it tried to dig under a log, then two pics of the spine arrangement on the back (one of these more clearly shows the tail on the right, as usually people don't think of it has having a tail) and lastly a pic of the face (which reminds me of Paddington Bear for some reason!  ).  Quite a different look to the earlier posting, which was why I commented.  Definitely was a tad camera shy too unfortunately, but I think I still managed to capture most of the features.

[Lesley Cox]

Definitely had a very bad hair day, or maybe the sight of Paul absolutely terrified the wee beastie.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Anthony,
you're welcome to use the pics. I can send you the originals if you like (about 1MB each). just e-mail me or send me a PM.
Lesley,
any manner of thing might've frightened it, rather than Paul! Actually when frightened they are more apt to hunker down and bury their faces rather look up. It is more likely to have been intrigued rather than terrified.
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

So I needn't be really afraid of meeting Paul then, whenever that may be? Sorry, I've just been to a book launch and had more than a little to drink. Great book, using fresh foods from Farmers' Markets, including mine. The book is called "Dinner in a Basket."

[Paul T]

Lesley,

Well you have to remember that my image was enough to blur that photo that Graham took at the Daffodil show..... so who knows what it would to your eyes directly!!!!! 

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

Anyone want to help with identifying the little butterfly thingy?  I am assuming butterfly relative as it is out during daylight quite freely, plus it has the simple antennae which I think indicate it isn't a moth (or do the day flying moths have simple antennae?).  It is totally unlike any other I have ever seen because when it is at rest it's wings sort of shift into a delta wing pattern (or at least that is how I think about it) instead of the traditional wings sitting up straight.  The butterfly alights and you see a grey underside to the wings, then as it relaxes each pair of wings splits apart, with the back pair sitting stright out sideways, and the upper pair sitting vertically.  It's a flightly little bu**er too, rather difficult to catch a picture of the little dear.  The whole insect is only a little over 1cm in length, making the job even more difficult.  I'm hoping the picture is clear enough to give some idea of what it may be? 

I think I have a couple of others photos I took of them previously, but I am not sure they're any better.  The advantage to them is that they may be from a different angle.  These insects do seem to be regularly in my garden at certain times of the year, so I may still be able to get a better photo at some time in the future.  Any takers as to ID?  If so, thanks in anticipation.

[rob krejzl]

Paul,

Looks like a Skipper. That stance (forewings up & hindwings spread) is characteristic of Ocybadistes sp. inhabiting east coast grasslands.

[Paul T]

Rob,

I'd never seen it until about a year ago, so I'm assuming they became more prevalent here sometime fairly recently.  The colours are so noticeable that I think I would have seen them before then if they'd been in my garden.  I don't notice them actually heading for flowers or anything, just meandering around the place.  The wing stance is just so strange compared to anything else around here, so as soon as they settle they are immediately identifiable.  In the air the colours catch your eye as well.  I'm just hoping they're a "good" thing not a bad one.    Thanks for the name info.... now I can look it up.

[Anthony Darby]

Yep, definitely a skipper. Often separated into a group of their own, i.e. neither butterfly nor moth. Many are grass feeders as larvae. It is very similar in pattern to the Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus) which just crosses the border into Scotland on the Solway Firth. Two other skippers (the Dingy Skipper - Erinis tages  and the Chequered Skipper - Carterocephalus palaemon) are also found in Scotland. The former feeds on Bird's Foot Trefoil, the latter, which is no longer found in England,  on Molinia caerulea.

Interesting how variable the Australian Short-beaked Echidna is.

[annew]

There's a Long-beaked echidna?

[Maggi Young]

Yes, indeedy! Three varieties, it seems!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Long-beaked_Echidna

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short-beaked_Echidna    I've been learning all sorts of things about these spiky chaps... what I haven't been able to discover yet is why their "snout" is referred to as a "beak"... is it only because they lay eggs, so there's a bird/word/connection?

[rob krejzl]

I'm assuming they became more prevalent here sometime fairly recently

You've had fires & drought Paul; The pattern of grass distribution must have changed; changes in numbers/distribution would seem to follow.

[John Forrest]

Jolly nice to see your spikey friend Paul.

[Anthony Darby]

There's a Long-beaked echidna?

Only one species in Oz though and that's the short-beaked.