More Native Beauties

I just can’t go past taking a shot of these native bees.  They are just everywhere at the moment and many can be found at rest which makes for some fantastic photo opportunities.

Native Beauties

Australian Native Bees are everywhere at the moment,  far outnumbering the honey bees in my garden.  If you can catch them at rest, this is your only chance to get a shot of these very fast little bees.  Often in the low light you will find them roosting in a position that seems unique to the native bees.  They will bite onto the end of a flower or twig with their jaws while tucking their legs under their body.  I have no idea of the species of these two bees as there are numerous species in the area.  Please feel free to provide an ID if you can.

Leaf Cutter Bee

Hi all.  It has been many months since my last post and I’m hoping that I will be able to start posting more regularly again.  Recently I was lucky enough to spot this small native bee which I’m guessing is a Leaf Cutter Bee (Family Megachilidae).   Getting any photo, let alone a good photo is very difficult with these small Bees as they refuse to sit still.  Identification is difficult with numerous species in the area, so any feedback on the presumed ID is appreciated.  I was lucky enough to catch this specimen in the early morning when it was quite docile.  They are definitely one of my favourite insects to shoot thanks to the challenge they pose.

A Gentle Giant

I believe this magnificent spider is of the family Sparassidae, more commonly known as Huntsman Spiders.  I spotted this spider on some pavers after heavy rain, most likely from being flooded out of its garden habitat.  These spiders are not web builders and prefer to hunt on the ground for insects such as cockroaches which makes them a welcome addition to any garden.   I’m sure it’s not a favorite amongst the arachnophobes due to its large size, but they are not known to be overly aggressive or venomous to humans.

A bizarre design

When I saw this small caterpillar (approx 1 cm in length) I was amazed at the bizarre architecture.  I only managed a few photos as it was quite difficult to catch the whole caterpillar in focus considering the limited depth of field.  I am glad that I captured the bizarre projections on the back which make this caterpillar a truly unique specimen.  I’m not even going to try identifying the species as I wouldn’t even know where to start, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.