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Trombidiidae, Red Velvet Mite
Trombidiidae, Red Velvet Mite sometimes known as true velvet mite or rain bugs.
Various species widespread around the world. Small Arachnids typically found in leaf litter. As adults they are active predators.
Photographed in Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia
Taxonomy
Class: Arachnida
Subclass: Acari
Order: Trombidiformes
Superfamily: Trombidioidea
Family: Trombidiidae
Plague Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus lugubris
Plague Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus lugubris. Mating swarm on timber post. Southern Highlands, NSW. Native to Australia. Flattened body approx 15mm long. Iridescent green elytra.
Taxonomy
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cantharidae
Genus: Chauliognathus
Species: C. lugubris
Plague Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus lugubris
Plague Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus lugubris. Mating swarm on timber post. Southern Highlands, NSW. Native to Australia. Flattened body approx 15mm long. Iridescent green elytra.
Taxonomy
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cantharidae
Genus: Chauliognathus
Species: C. lugubris
Plague Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus lugubris
Plague Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus lugubris. Mating swarm on timber post. Southern Highlands, NSW. Native to Australia. Flattened body approx 15mm long. Iridescent green elytra.
Taxonomy
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cantharidae
Genus: Chauliognathus
Species: C. lugubris
Plague Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus lugubris
Plague Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus lugubris. Mating swarm on garden plant pot. Southern Highlands, NSW. Native to Australia. Flattened body approx 15mm long. Iridescent green elytra.
Taxonomy
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cantharidae
Genus: Chauliognathus
Species: C. lugubris
Plague Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus lugubris
Plague Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus lugubris. Mating swarm on garden plant pot. Southern Highlands, NSW. Native to Australia. Flattened body approx 15mm long. Iridescent green elytra.
Taxonomy
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cantharidae
Genus: Chauliognathus
Species: C. lugubris
Shaggy Mane, Coprinus comatus
Shaggy Mane, Coprinus comatus - fungus.
A common fungus sometimes seen on disturbed ground lawns, gravel roads and waste areas. This example was found on a disused tarmac track. Widely distributed across Europe and North America is also now found as an introduced species in Australia, New Zealand and Iceland. Apparently Australia Post featured it on a postage stamp in 1981.
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Coprinus
Shaggy Mane, Coprinus comatus
Shaggy Mane, Coprinus comatus - fungus.
A common fungus sometimes seen on disturbed ground lawns, gravel roads and waste areas. This example was found on a disused tarmac track. Widely distributed across Europe and North America is also now found as an introduced species in Australia, New Zealand and Iceland. Apparently Australia Post featured it on a postage stamp in 1981.
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Coprinus
Huntsman Spider, Family - Sparassidae
Large adult Huntsman Spider, Family - Sparassidae, formerly Heteropodidae. Possibly female due to robust build and size of palps - Holconia vasta. Specific species ID uncertain as there are a number of similar Hunstman spider in the region such as Heteropoda venatoria and a number of others in the Isopeda genus. Close up view of face showing palpus and two rows of eyes.
NSW, Australia
Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae
Adult Laughing Kookaburra, (Dacelo novaeguineae) perched on tree branch. Terrestrial tree kingfishers native to Australia and New Guinea