Spit!

I found heaps of 'spittle' on one large low-hanging branch on my Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) last Thursday before we had significant rain over the weekend.

The spittle is the secretion of the Spittlebug nymph. They attach themselves to a stem, gorge themselves on the sap, taking up excessive amounts of water and carbohydrates. They expel the excess via their anal area, thus providing themselves with a frothy 'cocoon' which protects the nymph from predation as well as insulating it from the elements.

I didn't wreck one of the frothy masses to find the nymph, deciding to leave them in peace. I will have another look for the insect now the wind has ceased here and the camera is back on the table!

(Click to enlarge)

UPDATE: I did a little exploration.

Here's the Spittlebug nymph It quickly regained it's composure with more spittle!

HEMIPTERA : Aphrophoridae

Shields Up!

I prefer to call them Shield Bugs rather than Stink Bugs! :-)

Anyway, I found these two sunning themselves on Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood) last Wednesday. I enjoy finding them around October each year. Their colouring interests me.

These two may be the same species although there is a bit of a difference in antennal markings.

I think these Shield Bugs are probably Oncocoris sp. Hemiptera : Pentatomidae.

(Click images to enlarge)