iNaturalist

[pink poodle]

Get a balaclava!

The quendas around my folks' place were pretty friendly last night. Had no issues being on the grass less than a couple of meters from me. One even ran around someone's legs.

Way too hot!

 

[silentbutdeadly]

Ohhh did you get stung? Ive read its a memorable experience even for those who study stinging insects.

Yep. A few years ago. Didn't tickle.

Coincidentally, a paper wasp nailed me on the back of the neck yesterday after bumbling into me. Didn't sting for long but the allergic reaction means I've now got a quality lump that itches annoyingly.

 

[ausdb]

Have been seeing these critters darting across the fire road on the climbs back to the top of the trails lately. Usually it's a quick zoom past which makes it hard to ID,.I was sure they weren't mice and probably a native marsupial...today this little guy was having a nap on the verge of the fire road, probably trying to catch some sun as it was pretty fresh up on the hill, and I managed to get a pic. Could have probably picked it up as it was well and truly asleep. Gave it a prod and much to it's disgust, it wandered under the nearest shrub.
Anyway confirmed it's a Dusky Antechinus, first year seeing them here, maybe the prolonged wetness has driven them higher up the mountain, not sure. Pretty cool anyway.

Dusky antechinus - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

View attachment 405754

Antechinus, I remember an ecology lecturer at uni saying something along the lines of "The male of this species has a life that some would envy, it could be summarised as eats, fucks its brains out, then dies" and then went on to talk about a study of them he had been involved in.

 

[Asininedrivel]

I like bumblebees. Here's a really fat one