February Field Frolic through Fine Forests

                                                                                                                                                                

Ballow View Nature Refuge - condensed from the report by our leader, Keith.

                                                                                                                                       

The day was rather cloudy – lots of cloud on the mountain – so no view of Ballow.
                                                                                                                                       

Natters at Ballow View

Regardless, we set off through a forest of large and tall Grey Gums (Euc. biturbinata), full of hollows, and a smattering of other species such as Gum-topped Box (Euc. moluccana), Narrow-leaved Ironbark (Euc. crebra), Pink Bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia) and Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus).  The Grey Gums were resplendent in their new uniforms, with patches of new bark in shiny orange. 
                                                  

Some rocky outcrops were investigated and they were covered in bright green moss and lichens of a variety of colours. We came out on a rocky pavement with shallow soil and prickly Leptospermum microcarpum.  A creek cascaded off these rocks in a series of shutes and pools, on its way down to Burnett Creek – a great place for a cuppa.  
                                                                                                                                       
Some sharp eyes spotted little butterflies hovering over a wattle bush. Closer investigation revealed Common Imperial Blue, or Imperial Hairstreak, butterflies (males) waiting for pupa (female) to hatch.  Clusters of pupa (or chrysalis) were covered in ants. 

Pupae with attendant ants
Remember to click on the image for a larger view.

                                                                      
This is a complex life cycle of an intimate relationship with a special species of ant.  Female pupae release a pheromone just before they hatch and the males jostle to get there first.  Other pheromones keep the ants interested.  (See Orr & Kitching on page 250 for a detailed description).  I was quite intrigued by it all.
                                                                      

We then walked up the creek on our way back to the start.  We met a female Mountain Katydid on the way – a big insect with spectacular red bands across the abdomen.   
                                                                      
All in all, a good day. 

Imperial Hairstreak

Species Lists for Ballow View Nature Refuge, 20 February 2016

Butterfly  & Moth List: A Podlich

Banded Grass-Skipper, Glasswing, Large Purple Line Blue, Common Grass-Yellow, Small Grass-Yellow, Orange Ringlet, Checkered Swallowtail, Dainty Swallowtail, Orchard Swallowtail, Evening Brown, Common Brown, Common Albatross, Imperial Hairstreak, Common Eggfly, Blue Tiger, Common Grass-Blue, Wanderer, Lesser Wanderer, Common Jezebel, Joseph's Coat Moth, Tiger Moth.
Other Insects: L Beaton

Mountain Katydid Acripeza reticulate, Potter Wasp Abispa ephippium, Scarlet Percher Dragonfly Diplacodes haematodes.

Bird List: L Beaton  
Brown Goshawk, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, White-throated Gerygone, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Noisy Miner, White-throated Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Leaden Flycatcher, Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Eastern Yellow Robin, Torresian Crow, Mistletoebird. 27 species

Amphibians: Cane Toad Rhinella marina, Eastern Stony Creek Frog Litoria wilcoxii