Background

As of October 2020 just over 400 species had been recorded on this suburban property. As of the end of April 2021 this has risen to 500 species. As of March 2022, this has now risen to 604 species from 3,409 observations!

New Additions

Below are just a few of the 100 new species. Given that many are small Insects that are difficult or even impossible to identify down to species from photos alone, some of these new additions simply represent the first of a Genus recorded on the property, and occasionally the first of a Family. The easiest method for locating new species is still by using a UV light and sheet, as such most of the new species are represented by those nocturnal species attracted to the UV light.

24 new Moth species, including:

• First iNat record in South Australia of Genus Gnathifera. Attracted to UV light.
• Ectopatria mundoides. Attracted to UV light.
• Psilosticha loxoschema. Attracted to UV light.

---

---

• Third iNat record in South Australia of Compsotropha charidotis. Attracted to UV light.
• Earias paralella, Attracted to UV light.
• Fourth iNat record in South Australia Meyrickiella homosema. Attracted to UV light.

---

---

• Armactica conchidia. Attracted to UV light.
• Hypoperigea tonsa. Attracted to UV light.
• Didymoctenia exsuperata. Attracted to UV light.

---

---

• Morosaphycita oculiferella. Attracted to UV light.
• Ectopatria aspera. Attracted to UV light.
• Stathmopoda melanochra. Attracted to UV light.

---

---

• Genus Dialectica. Attracted to UV light.
• Pataeta carbo. Attracted to UV light.
• Etiella behrii. Attracted to UV light.

---

---

19 new Beetle species, including:

• Second iNat record in South Australia of Allodessus bistrigatus. Attracted to UV light.
• Genus Cordus. Attracted to UV light.
• Orthorhinus cylindrirostris. Found resting on shade cloth.

---

---

• Subfamily Colydiinae. Attracted to UV light.
• Genus Sepedophilus. Attracted to UV light.
• First record on iNat in South Australia of Family Silvanidae. Attracted to UV light.

---

---

• Tribe Alticini. Attracted to UV light.
• Family Scirtidae. Attracted to UV light.
• First iNat record in South Australia of Tribe Oxytelini. Attracted to UV light.

---

---

7 new Fly species, including:

• First iNat record of Austrotephritis trupanea. Attracted to UV light.
• First iNat record in South Australia of Genus Acletoxenus. Attracted to UV light.
• Poecilohetaerus schineri. Found resting on shade cloth.

---

---

• Eristalinus punctulatus (Native Drone Fly). Attracted to UV light.
• Family Simuliidae (Black Flies). Attracted to UV light.
• Family Cecidomyiidae (Gall and Forest Midges). Attracted to UV light.

---

---

6 new True Bugs species, including:

• First iNat record in South Australia of Subfamily Aradinae. Attracted to UV light.
• First iNat record in South Australia of Physatocheila uniseriata. Attracted to UV light.
• Ocirrhoe unimaculata.

---

---

• Second iNat record in South Australia of Tribe Leucophoropterini. Attracted to UV light.
• Subfamily Emesinae (Thread-legged Bugs). Attracted to UV light.
• Coridromius chenopoderis. Shaken from Rhagodia candolleana.

---

---

4 new Spider species, including:

• Maratus literatus (Lettered Peacock Spider), Unplanned find in leaf litter.
• Araneus circulissparsus (Speckled Orbweaver).
• Genus Dolophones (Wrap-around Spiders).

---

---

General Update

Given that 2/3 of all species recorded to date have been those species attracted to the UV light after sunset, future focus needs to be directed toward other avenues to find additional species. There’s still significant scope for finding additional species during the daytime, particularly at warmer times of the day, as indicated by finding more than a dozen Lasioglossum Bees visiting heavily flowering Fire Daisies (Ixodia achillaeoides) during the mid-afternoon.

Plant/Animal associations continue to be recorded and tagged on iNaturalist, although this approach requires more attention. To date 8 species have been recorded in association with the Rhagodia candolleana, and 10 species with the Eremophila glabra ssp. Carnosa. Animal/Object associations are also recorded with a single Bird bath currently utilised by 19 species.

The 13 year old Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) has been replaced with with a seedling grown from one of its own seeds. The remaining trunk drilled as Bee nesting sites, facing North-East, at varying heights with varying diameters. These will be monitored for utilisation. During drilling a tiny parasitic wasp (2mm, black with orange on abdomen) visited several holes. The aim being to identify further local Bee and parasitic Wasp species (hopefully a Gasteruption sp).

---

---

Seasonal Plans

Over the cool season:

• The shade house area has been kept damp throughout Summer with daily misting with the intent of aiding establishment of Mosses and Liverworts. The area will be monitored for new species.
• Establish sand/clay nesting site for Blue Banded Bees.
• Install multiple drilled hardwood sites for timber nesting bees, with varying heights, hole sizes & patterns.
• Experimental wet sand/clay soil tray to function as water for Insects and mud source for Potter and Mason Wasps.

Still “Needs ID”
The current number species observed may in fact be higher, with many invertebrates having been only identified to Family or Genus, with some stuck at Order. If you have any expertise in the following areas, your assistance with IDs in the following groups would be appreciated. Many of the observations have macro-level photos from multiple angles.

Needs ID:
Moths
Spiders
Plants
Ants
Flies
Beetles
Wasps
Bugs
Everything Else

---

---