Wildflower Walk, Landsborough - 9am - 12pm - Saturday the 29th of October, 2022

As part of our Citizen Science Saturday & the Great Southern Bioblitz 2022 we held our Bug Club at Wildflower Walk. The weather was warm and there were plenty of bugs about. Look at all the colours! Everyone set about looking for insects. As insects were found they were placed carefully into specimen jars and brought back to be identfied, photographed and talked about. When we are satisfied everyone has had a good look we release the insect. We made 21 different species observations.

Our favourite insect this week was Naskrecki's Bush Katydid. The one in the centre photo is a nymph and will be all green as an adult.

Pictured below are some of our findings. For the full list take a look at our "Bug Club" Project on iNaturalist by using the QR Code above and keep checking back to see if some of our unidentified observations have been identified or to learn more about a species.

Hell Hole Park, Diamond Valley - 1pm - 4pm - Saturday the 29th of October, 2022.

As part of our Citizen Science Saturday & the Great Southern Bioblitz 2022 we were joined by Nature Journalist Dion Dior and a very motivated group of people of all ages.

We focussed on Aquatic Macroinvertebrates which are insects in their nymph and larval stages, snails, worms and crayfish that spend at least part of their lives in water. They play a large role in freshwater ecosystems by recycling nutrients as well as being food for other animals. Wikipedia. After taking a sample of macro invertebrates from the river we identified and gave each species a rank according to the National Waterbug Blitz. This exercise gives us a snapshot of the health of the river.
Everyone then chose something to draw and were expertly guided by Dion through the process. All of the bugs were then returned to the river.

Pictured below are some of our findings. Take a look at our "Bug Club" Project on iNaturalist by using the QR code above. Keep checking back to see if some of our unidentified observations have been identified or to learn more about a species.

Sunshine Coast Biocontrol Facility, Glenview - 3:30pm - 5pm - 24th August, 2022

This week we had a "Bug Lab" at our facility. We used an amazing microscope which projects onto a computer screen to get a closer look at the Insects, Arachnids and even Gastropods (snails and slugs) that we found.

Our Bugclubbers were very good at finding a wide variety of specimens for us to look at and then release. We used beat sheets, looked under rotting logs and leaf litter and also checked a couple of pitfall traps that had been setup earlier. We are finding more insects as spring approaches and they start to emerge from their winter hiding places.

We found a few Rhinoceros beetle larvae and the undescribed beetle larvae (Genus Meracantha). These larvae will soon be little beetles which will be roaming and flying about pollinating springtime flowers.

An Assassin Bug was also found. They are ambush predators and use their proboscis to impale prey and inject saliva which turns the prey's body contents to liquid. They then suck up the juices through the proboscis, which acts like a straw. (Queensland Museum). There are more than 300 species of Australian Assassin Bugs and many of them have a nasty bite, so make sure you never pick one up just in case!

Keep checking back on our Bug Club Project to see if some of our unidentified observations have been identified.

Wildflower Walk, Landsborough 3:30pm - 5:00pm / Wednesday the 27th of July, 2022

Our equipment included our trusty beat sheets, a water net & bucket, torches, magnifying glasses
and collection jars.

Our Bug Clubbers have been doing a great job this winter finding bugs. Bugs don't really love cold weather so they are much harder to find because depending on what type of bug they are they will either * migrate to a warmer location * go into diapause which is a dormant state * die and leave their eggs, larvae, pupae or nymphs behind and complete their lifecycle when the weather warms up or * hibernate.
When they go into diapause they find shelter from the cold by burrowing underground or hide in tree trunks or under rocks to escape the cold weather and emerge when the climate warms. Some animals like long lived tarantulas will hibernate by producing a sort of antifreeze chemical in their body that slows them down and helps them survive.

iNaturalist confirmed observations included : Striped Pond Skater (Genus Limnogonus), Stick Mantis (Archimantis latistyla), Bromocoris souefi, Yabby (Cherax depressus), Caddisfly (Order Trichoptera), Green Jumping Spider (Mopsus Mormon), Square-ended Crab Spider (Genus Sidymella)

We are still waiting on confirmed identifications of what iNaturalist "guessed" as a Raspy Cricket (Family Gryllacrididae), Leafcurling Sac Spider (Genus Clubiona), Translucent Cicada (Subfamily Cicadinae), Genus Balta (Cockroach), a Jumping Spider (Subfamily Salticinae) and finally a spider which could be a Tree-wolf Fishing Spider or a Megadolomedes trux.

Keep up the great work and we will be rewarded with Spring fast approaching.

Daisies Place, Mooloolah River National Park - 13/07/22
This week at Bug Club we visited a remnant Lowland Subtropical Rainforest. It is hidden away right next to the highway and is a very special place filled with big old trees, ferns, mosses and the Mooloolah River runs through it.

We had a very eager group of amateur entomologists armed with beat sheets, a water net & bucket, torches, magnifying glasses and collection jars.

iNaturalist confirmed observations included : Two Pill Millipedes (Family Procyliosomatidae). The photos uploaded show the smaller one having shed its exoskeleton. It went from being black to a light blue colour. I will continue observing it to see if it returns to being black as the exoskeleton hardens.
Another interesting find was a part of the exoskeleton of a type of Scarab Beetle (Chlorobapta frontalis). We took a photo of it under UV light to see its markings illuminate. If you check our Bug Club Project you will see we had an identifier give us a lot of extra information about this specimen. Very interesting!

A Marsh Beetle from the Family Scirtidae and a Mayfly larva which were both found in the water. A very small Weevil from the Tribe Derelomini, an arachnid from the Genus Mirror-ball Spider - species the Black-spotted Thwaitesia (Thwaitesia nigronodosa), a Green Jumping Spider (Mopsus mormon), a Social House Spider (Philoponella congregabilis) with eye markings on the front and back of its abdomen which would be used to scare off predators, a Bronze Huntsman Spider (Isopedella flavida),

We are still waiting on confirmed identifications of what iNaturalist "guessed" as the Hoary Servaea (spider), Leaflitter Crab Spider, Leaf Beetle larva and Hackled Orbweaver.

Things we found that were not bugs included a Great Barred-Frog tadpole (Mixophyes fasciolatus) and a Drayton Droplet-snail (Pleuropoma draytonensis) that is only found in SEQ and NNSW.

3:30pm - 5:00pm / Wednesday the 22nd of June, 2022
Mooloolah River Landcare
This week at Bug Club we held a Bug Lab where we were lucky enough to use Jessica's new "toy", a very high tech microscope which is linked to a monitor, to get a closer look at our specimens. We foraged around the Landcare grounds looking in leaf litter and soil for insects. We had not investigated the area in a while and we noticed the impacts that the recent floods have had on the soil. Before the floods the soil was very moist and alive with microscopic organisms. What we found today was that the soil was very compacted from the silt deposited from the flood waters and there was not much diversity in the animals we found. It will be interesting to monitor the area to see how long it takes for the soil to regenerate and for the diversity to return. We found lots of Lawn Shrimp (Arcitalitrus sylvaticus), a very pretty Giant Huntsman Spider (Genus Heteropoda), a Saint Andrew's Cross Spider (Argiope keyserlingi), a large beetle larva and a small undescribed caterpillar. We also investigated our Butterfly Host Plant garden and found some White Nymph (Mynes geoffroyi) caterpillars and eggs.
Using the microscope we were very excited to see the caterpillars hatching out of their eggs. The miniature world is very fascinating and using a microscope takes it to the next level.

Did you know that Lawn Shrimp are also known as a Landhopper and are a species of Beach Hopper in the family Talitridae. They are a terrestrial Amphipod (land crustacean) native to Australia. They live in moist soil and organic matter within 13mm of the surface. They die in dry conditions and drown when it's too wet. During the recent floods I heard of lots of people seeing them around their houses on concrete and verandahs. They were moving to higher ground to escape drowning. In drier times people report seeing them in puddles or pet bowls.

3:30pm - 5:00pm / Wednesday the 8th of June, 2022
Mount Tibrogargan, Glasshouse Mountains
We're really getting the hang of this citizen science entomology! Everyone's eager to get started, we get our gear organised, reconnect with each other and can't even leave our meeting point without finding bugs. Seven of us set out and chose a different path this time and were rewarded by finding a totally different range of bugs from our last visit. We are constantly looking for clues as to where to find bugs. We take notice of the bark on trees, spider webs, we look under leaves on trees as well as those that have fallen to the ground. Rotting sticks and logs can also have surprises. Bugs are much harder to find in cool weather however our observation skills are getting better each time we venture out.
One of the prettiest bugs found was a Mirror-ball Spider (Genus Thwaitesia). It shone just like a golden mirror-ball and there were cries of delight when it was found. Other bugs we found were a Treehopper species (Genus Aconophora), a Golden-tailed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis ammon), a species of Ground hopper from the Subfamily Cladonotinae, a Planthopper species (Genus Raivuna), a Net-casting spider (Family Deinopidae), a Torpedo Bug (Siphanta acuta), a Melaleuca Sawfly (Lophyrotoma Zonalis), a Steelblue Lady Beetle (Halmus chalybeus) , Termites (Genus Nasutitermes), a Lacewing Larvae (Subfamily Myiodactylinae), a Crane fly (Gynoplistia Bella) and newly hatched Spiny Leaf Stick Insect (Extatosoma tiaratum). A total 13 species.
We also found a Cordyceps, a species of fungi, that had parasitised a spider and taken over its tissue. For a while the spider lives in a zombie-like state and eventually dies when the fruiting bodies of the fungus burst through the exoskeleton and releases spores to complete its life cycle.

With 12 Citizen Science Entomologists in our group we set out on the circuit track at Mount Tibrogargan, Glasshouse Mountains on the 25/5/22. The weather was cloudy and we were lucky to have just missed the rain. Our aim was to collect insects and record our findings. Our equipment included specimen jars, a beat sheet, magnifying glasses, hand lenses, ultra violet torch and sticks for turning over rotting logs and leaf litter.
Walking slowly along the circuit track we began to 'tune in' and connect with nature. It was then that observations of insects began to be made. We collected specimens in our jars. What a wonderful feeling to share in the discovery of a creature that is part of the ecosystem. To guess or know what it is, to hypothesise about what it's doing, what it eats, what eats it and how it lives it's life.
We walked to a clearing in the forest overlooking the majestic Mount Tibrogargan. This is where we started having a good look at the insects we had collected in our specimen jars along the way. Lots of small spiders were found. We guessed the species of some of them, took photos, made notes and looked forward to getting confirmed identifications from iNaturalist.
At the end of the session and back at our starting point, dusk was upon us when we used an ultra violet torch to find some millipedes. A magical moment to see such a beautiful creature glowing. Did you know that bioluminescence in millipedes is caused by the reaction of a photoprotein that uses magnesium and molecules that contain oxygen.They use it as a defence mechanism.
To date our observations that have been confirmed on iNaturalist include : the Saint Andrew's Cross Spider (Argiope keyserlingi) , an Austral Ellipsidion (Ellipsidion australe), a Green Jumping Spider (Mopsus Mormon), a Badge Huntsman Spider (Genus Neosparassus), an Eastern Bush Orbweaver (Plebs eburnus), an Amorous alternatus, a millepede (Genus Spirobolellus) and although not an insect a Crimson Foot Semi-slug (Stanisicarion freycineti) was also found.
Others that don't have a confirmed identification yet include a Northern Grass Pyrgomorph (Attractomorpha similis), two different species of Orbweavers, a White Cedar Moth, a Garden Jumping Spider, a Spittlebug, a Cricket and a caterpillar of the Genus Orgyia.
That's a total of 17 species found!
For more information about all of the species we found you can use iNaturalist. Go to your Home Screen - select Project (bottom right) - select Bug Club - you will then see all of the insects we have recorded over the last 3 Bug Club meetings. Select a species - select the right arrow next to the name of of the insect - you will then see more photos, a distribution map and a "More Info on iNaturalist.org" tab which will take you to the iNaturalist website where there is even more information.
This journal entry is written from my perspective. You could write your own journal and it would reflect your experience. You could also draw or paint the insects we find.

So much to learn, so many more to find!!

The buzz started in the carpark at the Wildflower Walk / Ferny Forest, Landsborough, meeting and greeting 11 ready and willing amateur entomologists. We walked through the forest to a cleared area with picnic tables and set up a base to work from.

Our gear kit included our special "Bug Club Citizen Science Entomologist" lanyards with hand lens, 2 handmade "Beat Sheets" and sticks, a butterfly net, collection jars, a microscope, magnifying glasses and journals.

Our aim for the afternoon was freestyle insect observations using our Beat Sheets, butterfly net and by carefully looking under rotting logs and sticks.

We demonstrated how to use a "Beat Sheet" and explained that it requires you to use a stick to "Beat" at vegetation while holding the sheet underneath to collect any insects that fall out. The sheet is then laid on the ground and specimen jars are used to carefully collect the insects making sure they aren't harmed.
We set out looking for insects and took our finds back to our base to share and document our finds with each other.

When we made observations, we used iNaturalist to help us make identifications and record them in our "Bug Club" iNaturalist Project. We let iNaturalist help us guess the species and then over the next few days we wait to get our identifications confirmed. We also made lists in our journals, counted the number of species found and drew pictures.

There were lots of spiders collected and the star of the afternoon was the Four-spined Spiny Orbweaver (Gasteracantha quadrispinosa) which is distinctively shaped and coloured yellow to red. Our specimen was yellow. It builds a vertical orb web approximately 1.5 m across and hangs in the centre of the web to wait for prey (Wikipedia).
Another very interesting observation was the Lacewing Larva or "Junk Bug" that carries the remains of their prey on their backs as a way to camaflouge themselves.

iNaturalist has so far confirmed the Green Jumping Spider (Mopsus mormon), the Stretch Spider (Genus Tetragnatha) which can run over water, and an Entelegyne Spider.

Other insects observed but not yet confirmed were a Pygmy Grasshopper, a Long Green Crab Spider, a Milky Flower Spider, a spider from the Subfamily Salticinae, a Brown Shield Bug, a Lacewing Larva (Junk Bug) and a Green Garden Looper caterpillar.

Satisfied that we had documented our observations, we released our bugs and made plans for our next Bug Club adventure.

To keep up to date with our observations and identifications and for more information about these insects and arachnids join the project on iNaturalist.

Thanks to everyone who came and for your enthusiasm. Your efforts in finding and documenting our natural world matters.

Our first Bug Club Meeting was at the Wildflower Walk at Landsborough on the 27th of April, 2022. We met at 3:30pm and set out with a group of 10 people all eager to look for Dragonflies (Odonata). It was a cloudy afternoon with a sprinkling of rain as we set off. We took with us some water nets, a butterfly net, collection jars for observations, magnifying glasses and nature journals.
The weather was not ideal for spotting dragonflies however we did manage to spot a few Red-tipped Shadeflies (Argiocnemis rubescent) a species of Damselfly which had a very pretty green body and a red-tipped tail as the name suggests. They have a length of 35-40mm. We originally thought it was the Red-rumped Wisp but with help from other identifiers we confirmed it was the Shadefly.

We used nets in the water to look for dragonfly larva but had no luck. Instead we found the awesome Giant Water Bug (Lethocerus insulanus). It is the biggest ‘true bug’ in Australia. They are also called the “electric light bug” or “giant fishkiller”. They can grow up to 7cm long and live in fresh water lakes.

They have excellent eyesight and powerful front legs to catch prey. It uses an extendable syphon at the end of their bodies, like a snorkel, to breathe underwater while hunting. It positions itself head-down on a submerged plant stem and hunts by ambush, taking tadpoles, small fish, frogs, snails and aquatic insects. They then use their proboscis to inject digestive enzymes into its prey. This liquifies the prey and then they suck it back out. They fly at night between hunting sites and are attracted to lights. Like most insects they don’t like being handled and could bite which is why it’s important not to pick them up.

Other interesting things we found were leeches, Creeping Water Bugs, freshwater snails, shrimp and crayfish, a Longihorn Beetle and an iridescent millipede (Spirobolellus).

We made observations, took photos and released our finds.

We finished the afternoon discussing what we found and writing up lists and drawing our observations.

What a great afternoon connecting with like-minded people and sharing our passion for the natural world.

Wikipedia
Australian Museum
Minibeast Wildlife