peterslingsby's Favourites

Kleinmond coccinea shelter reared

9 April 2019:

Collected large frass-n-silk shelter on Erica coccinea.

26 May 2019:

It turns out that there are at least two individuals sharing this shelter.

18 June 2019:

I noticed that there was a concentration of nest material below the shelter in the tub, firmly attached to the tissue paper lining. On further inspection I found a cocoon in there.

31 July 2019:

The first of my two inhabitants emerged. Cocoon #2 is still on the shelf.

@petersilingsby , what do you make of these. The pubescence is sparse when compared to C auropubens but goldish in colour and the stout bristle - like hairs more prominent to my eye. Medium sized ~ 8mm I would guess.

Silky Hairstreak caterpillars with attendant ants.
On a broad leafed wattle these small, black caterpillars were apparently be lovingly looked after by groups of grey and black ants. The caterpillars were about 15mm long. I could not see what the ants were getting from the caterpillar but they seemed to be regularly checking the rear end.
In a local nature reserve adjoining a large national park both dominated by various eucalyptus species.
"Occurring mainly in the Dandenong Ranges where it breeds on wattles (Acacia sp.). An early spring species whose larvae feed on Blackwood (A. melanoxylon) and Silver Wattle (A. dealbata). The larvae are attended by the strong smelling ant, Anonychomyrma biconvexa. Pupation usually occurs under the bark of nearby eucalypts. " - Museum Victoria
Conservation status HIGHLY VULNERABLE

First surprised by how common they are, then astonished on how irresponsible they are. These ants were literally under every damp logs, quite common for dracula ants I guess. They were found with cocoons several times as many as there were workers, but the workers didn't really care about the brood, just busy hiding or playing dead. (which made it a little challenging to take pictures)