Category Archives: Other Stuff

Bees & Bugs

Netelia producta

I spotted this skinny bug in the jasmine this morning. I was chasing the blue-banded bee about with the Nikon D3000. Googling, I discovered this is most likely an orange caterpillar-parasite wasp – netelia producta.

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Wikipedia has an interesting article on this wasp family…

The Ichneumonidae are a parasitoid wasp family within the order Hymenoptera. They are important parasitoids of other invertebrates; common hosts are larvae and pupae of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. Over 24,000 species have been described worldwide. Estimates of the total species range from 60,000 to over 100,000 – more than any other hymenopteran family.

Apparently these type of wasps caused Charles Darwin to question the existence of a benevolent God – unable to believe a kind God would create insects that fed on live caterpillars or have cats play with mice.

orangecaterpwasp3

The white bands on the antennae probably indicate its female and the sting doubles as the ovipositer.  While I was framing a shot, a bee landed on the same leaf and up went the stinger. Pity it wasn’t in focus – would have made a wonderful image. Not that I pressed the shutter. I was too busy jumping away. I thought that something so obvious might only be for show but I was a bit more careful afterward.

Thanks for looking.  🙂

 

 

 

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skink

garden skink (Nikon D3000 on auto)

Hope you are having a great weekend!   🙂

Reptiles

Skink in the wood pile

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Bees & Bugs

Drone Fky

These photos taken with the Nikon D3000 this morning. I am still chasing the teddy bear bees around for that perfect shot. Got one good one this morning. I was side-tracked by a flash of red in the sun and found this drone fly who, unlike the frisky teddy bee and the blue-banded bees, consented to pose.  I seem to have a bit of shake this morning. I still haven’t got a tripod. I guess the best thing to do is to set up a tripod, focus on a particular flower, and wait. I’m feeling a little sun baked after spending a good while out there.

Yesterday, I vacuumed pretty much our whole house and cleaned little corners where I haven’t been for an age – like the top of my dressing table and behind the wood burner.  I did lots of laundry. I had hoped to get to work on my proofing in the afternoon but then constant sirens alerted us that a bush fire had started  barely 10kms away. Thankfully, the wind was against it speeding our way and the fire brigades quickly built a perimeter around it to keep it contained.  Even so, my head space was ruined.

I’m hoping to get the proofing finished over the next two days. March is ticking away and I will have this book behind me by months end!

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We are grandparents again with the arrival yesterday of our latest grand-daughter by C-section. From the photos on Facebook, she is gorgeous, as is her mother. Makes a difference when neither is knocked around by the usual trauma of childbirth. Mum and dad were a bit shocked at the suddenness of bub’s arrival since the op was unexpected.  This fine family has now reached their magic number of eight children.

Thanks for reading! I had only intended posting the photos and a few words.

All the best for the coming week. Have a good one. 🙂

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