Sunday 31 August 2008

A Sparassid At Last!

Well, at least a Neosparassid!

This "Badge Huntsman" was on my sliding door when I returned from annoying a couple of amphibians with my camera last night. The weather has warmed up and more like spring so I imagine spiders will become a little more active now.

This one did not appear to be fully grown but rode the door backwards and forwards as I came in and out from several missions, including rounding up a couple of logs to keep the fire going during the night.

Neosparassids can be identified easily by the black shield (usually with 2 white dots) on the abdomen but the pattern of the shield may differ between species. They are also known as "Shield Huntsmen"

Just so you know, this is the only way I will be looking at the underparts of Huntsmen. Them on one side of glass and me on the other! :-)

(Click to enlarge)

Thursday 28 August 2008

Butterflies

Sorry folks, no sightings so far!

I was just going through my records from August last year and noted I saw my first Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) on the 22nd August last year. Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) on the 30th August. Some small blues and Pieris rapae were seen around the 27th August, 2007

The butterflies are a bit slow off the mark here this year.

Perhaps September will be more favourable!

Sunday 17 August 2008

Flowers, Frogs & Fungi....

I've changed the Blog's name and URL.

http://fungiofgreatwestern.blogspot.com

Sorry for any inconvenience.