​Hello fellow Foxies,
About three years ago during a very dry spring I noticed that parrotbush (Banksia sessilis) plants on Banksia Walk shallow ironstone soil east of the water tank were severely infested with a scale insect. The damage has progressed each year to the extent that most plants there are dead or unthrifty. Accompanying golden dryandra (Banksia nobilis) plants are much less affected

​After much investigation I discovered that symptom severity is linked to soil water holding capacity, with far less damage on deeper and sandier soils. Another finding was that two organisms are involved. The first was identified as whitefly, but a new species rather than the common Aleurotrachelus dryandrae
Adult whiteflies look like tiny white powdery moths, but I am yet to see any. The mains signs are small powdery spots (early larvae), yellowish to brown scale-like mid-stage larvae and pupal cases that look like miniscule white crystal coffins. Whitefly are supposed to only be on the leaf underside, but this species is often on the upper side. Infested leaves often have a powdery or waxy looking coating and black spots that may be associated with honeydew exuded by the larva. The spots look like insect poo to me!

​While the leaves are being sucked dry, the growing points are also being killed by an evil caterpillar. From an egg laid on shoot or flower, the caterpillar hollows out the stem to the first node. It returns to the dead growing point to pupate and exit.

​Moisture stressed plants are more susceptible to diseases and pests, and increased temperatures also increase temperatures worsen pest damage by speeding up their life cycle.
The Banksia walk was named after a small group of Bull Banksia (Banksia grandis) plants that occur on this soil. They have been struggling in recent years, and some are dying this summer. Interestingly they are not greatly infested with whiteflies or borers. This area is a photo-reference site that I have been monitoring. Images changes since the 2009 fire.

​This is another biodiversity loss in Foxes Lair in addition to flooded gum death, marri decline, and wandoo crown decline that I have observed in the last 20 years.  I still remember being surprised when I arrived in Narrogin in 1986 and a farmer told me how much his farm’s rainfall had fallen. We now have even less and more variable winter rainfall. 

​Greetings fellow Foxies
Last week I discovered a flea beetle love nest on a Blueberry Lily with at least a 6 pairs mating on the flowers and taking an occasional nip of flower to maintain their stamina.
The flea beetle is a small, jumping beetle of the leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae), that makes up the tribe Alticini.
I first noticed some last year as ~ 4mm shiny beetles that jumped like fleas when I tried to photograph them. Have a look at the hind leg muscles in the images below -seriously steroidal.
A bit of Googling revealed that they can be pests in the northern hemisphere, and I recognised a picture of a larva as a horrible little grub that shreds marshmallow weed leaves in my back yard each winter. They are welcome to marshmallow but move on to crucifers like turnips and broccoli. I have learnt not to grow turnips or allow marshmallow to germinate in the garden patch before planting broccoli.

​Brachonid wasps and Tachinid flies are parasitoid flea beetle predators. Adults lay eggs on flea beetle larvae that hatch to produce a grub-like larva that burrows, consumes the insides and pupates there to start the cycle again. I am surprised that I have seen so few beetles and will have to monitor marshmallows next winter.

Greetings fellow Foxies,
 
Serendipity is a wonderful thing. Recently I found an ant nest under a discarded cardboard box with brown leafhoppers that live with the ants. The leafhoppers ran back into the tunnels while the ants swarmed out.
According to the attached research paper, nocturnal Pogonoscopus species leafhoppers have an inquilistic relationship (word of the month = they benefit from) with Carpenter (Myrmex species) ants.
During the day, the leafhoppers shelter in the ant nest near eucalypts. At night they emerge and climb up the eucalypts to feed on sap. The ants attend them to get a feed from the the leafhopper’s rear.
Unlike other leafhoppers this species has long rear legs to enable them to climb up trees quickly, so it does not hop. They could also have little or no vision, although the ones I saw very quickly moved away.
from light
​The ant/leafhopper relationship is species specific and these leafhoppers would be attacked if they entered the wrong nest.

​Carpenter ants are active at night, as I noticed when photographing frogs at the claypit one night last spring.

A  day active leafhopper below  has more typical large eyes and more vertical wings

​Greetings fellow Foxies,

The bush in Foxes lair is still benefitting from a burn in December 2009, particularly on gravel soils. In the image below taken from the Breakaway Walk area last year, pink Mirbelia dilatata flowers show the burnt area compared to sedge dominated bush to the left that hasn’t burnt for 40 years.

​There is also a great resurgence in lovely hairy flowered Jacksonia epiphyllum on the entry road in late October. Last year I happened to get a pic of a rare weevil and returned regularly to see if I could collect a specimen for the WA Museum. Alas no more rare weevils but many other interesting little beasties.

For a visual exploration of other wonderful beasties click this Google Photos link