A Tricky One: Moth vs Butterfly? (Article by Al Young and Lesley Beaton)

During the outing to Cunningham’s Gap on 04 March 2018 we saw a ‘butterfly’ flitting in the open area next to the rainforest at West Gap Creek picnic area. Al thought it was a White-banded Plane (Phaedyma shepherdi) but when it landed on a tree trunk Lesley said it was probably a day-flying moth because it perched with its head facing downwards which is typical of some day-flying moths. While it was perched Al took a photo (See below).

So after consulting ‘Dr Google’ we decided it was a Forest Day-moth (Cruria synopla). This species is black with white spots on the forewing and a pale-yellow bar across each hindwing, which certainly resembles a White-banded Plane (Phaedyma sheperdi) especially when in flight.

The Forest Day-moth closely resembles Donovan’s Day-moth (C. donovani) but the hindwing bar of the Forest Day-moth is yellower and less irregular (ragged). Also, the Forest Day-moth has a faint narrow pale line from the base to the middle of each forewing. Apparently, both of these species are widespread in eastern Queens-land.

So, what are the distinguishing features between a White-banded Plane butterfly and a Forest Day-moth? (See photos below).

1. While in flight the hind wing bar of the White-banded Plane is white whereas the bar is quite yellow in the Forest Day-moth. Probably the most reliable distinguishing trait.
2. The pattern of white spots in the forewings are somewhat different but only readily discernible when they are perched. 
3. The Forest Day-moth will often perch with its head downwards, whereas butterflies generally perch with the head facing upwards. 

Information on Day-moth (Cruria) species courtesy of Coff’s Harbour Butterfly House.

Forest Day-moth (Cruria synopla) – Cunningham’s Gap

Donovan’s Day-moth (Cruria donovani)^^ – in normal resting position with head upwards; image not rotated

Donovan’s Day-moth (Cruria donovani)^^ – image rotated 180 degrees

(Photos by Al Young)

^^ Previously wrongly labelled as White-banded Plane (Phaedyma shepherdi), Corrected in January, 2019 by the authors.

Outings Report - Cunningham's Gap, Sunday 4 March, 2018 (Report by Lesley Beaton)

Unfortunately, not too many members turned up for this outing. Rain was forecast but we didn’t get a drop, and by lunch we even got some pale sunlight. Once inside the rainforest light conditions were low so we didn’t see many birds but we certainly heard them even above the roar of the trucks climbing the highway. Because of the damp there were plenty of fungi to interest us, especially one little orange specimen with a native semi-slug chomping away. We stopped to admire the view of Lake Moogerah from the Fassifern Lookout before return-ing to the carpark.

At the picnic area only two other members joined us for morning tea. However, an SGAP group were there on a fern survey. While enjoying our refreshments we were diverted (?) by the Satin Bowerbirds and Bell Miners or Bellbirds. A little later we set out on the lower end of the Box Forest track only to be held up by the running West Gap Creek, and after some judicious additions to the stepping stones we crossed without incident.

The Box Forest Track is named after the Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus), which line West Gap Creek. At the western end, the track winds its way beside this creek through magnificent Eucalypts and Brush Box but eventually, as it climbs closer to The Gap, you are walking through rainforest thick with vines and epiphytes on species such as the Booyong or Blackjack (Argyrodendron actinophyllum). One of the most distinctive features of this tree is the large deep green leaves that radiate out from central stems - hence the name actin = ray, phylum = leaf. The trunks form the characteristic buttresses of a rainforest species. The track also passes by some of the largest Giant Stinging Trees (Dendrocnide excelsa) I’ve ever seen.

There was far more activity in, and near, the picnic area than at the top of the Gap and we had glimpses of Bassian Thrush, Brown Gerygone and Grey Shrike-thrush. At one point the track was littered with blue Quan-dong fruit and we hoped to see pigeons and fruit-doves but not this time. We also saw where wild pigs had been grubbing around in the soft earth. As in the rainforest fungi were everywhere, and we needed someone more knowledgeable in that subject to help identify them. Another unidentified species was a dead huntsman spider found floating in a quiet bend of the creek. Unfortunately, there was little left of its abdomen so it was difficult to identify though it had clear markings on its cephalothorax.

Lunch was back at the picnic ground where the Bellbirds and Bowerbirds joined us again. The weather was warm and humid so butterflies were flittering around everywhere. There was plenty of chat over what we had, and hadn’t seen before it was time to take a group photo then go our separate ways.

Cunningham’s Gap Rainforest Circuit - Birds: Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird, Brown Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Eastern Whipbird, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Eastern Yellow Robin. Butterflies: Wonder Brown female. Mammals: Red-necked Pademelon.

West Gap Creek Picnic Area/Box Forest Track - Birds: Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Black Kite, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird, White-browed Scrubwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Currawong, Rufous Fantail, Australian Raven, Eastern Yellow Robin, Bassian Thrush. Butterflies: Orchard Swallowtail, Common Grass-yellow, Wonder Brown male, Yellow Admiral. Moth: Forest Day-moth (Cruria synopla).

A leather fungus growing on wood (Cymatoderma elegans)

Golden Curtain Crust fungus (Stereum ostrea)

Turkey Tail fungus (Trametes versicolor)

(Above photos by Al Young)

Field Nats at Cunningham’s Gap  (Photo by Francis Mangubhai)

Speaker Report - Robert Whyte on Spider Mania

(Report by Glenda Walter)

Robert Whyte was a relaxed, entertaining and informative speaker on the subject of his favourite creatures, spiders. Ten years ago, he was studying habitat regeneration, and decided to use spiders as a measure of success. His first small study showed that five times the number of spiders (abundance) and many times the number of species, genera and families (diversity) inhabited original remnant vegetation compared to that in a degraded area. He then conducted a second study, using 400 square metre sites of:

a) a suburban garden with native creek-side plantings

b) an area which had undergone five or six years of regenerative work and

c) preserved original vegetation.

This gave the same results, showing greater abundance and diversity in natural good-quality bushland. The garden had the fewest number of genera, species and spiders overall while there were more in the restored area, and most by far in the un-degraded site. Spiders are mid-level predators and rely on other invertebrates as prey. They flourish where there is plant and insect diversity. Therefore, high spider abundance and diversity are good indicators of habitat health.

By this time Rob was hooked and became interested in spiders for their own sakes. Having seen excellent publications with wonderful photographs on spiders in Korea and Japan, he and Greg Anderson decided that they would co-author a book on Australian spiders. Many years later, this book, “A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia”, was published by CSIRO in 2017 and has been widely acclaimed. Well over 1000 photographs, simple and interesting text, a comprehensive index and excellent layout make this book one of the best field guides I have seen.

Spider taxonomy has been somewhat neglected in the southern hemisphere until comparatively recently when resident Australian arachnologists have been examining live populations and using modern technology to sort and rename them. In the Hersiliidae family (Two-tailed Spiders) for example which 20 years ago contained five Australian members, about 50 are now recognised. Robert and his partner Anne showed us large and dramatic images to illustrate some spiders both large and small, and spoke about some spider myths and amazing facts.

• ·         White-tailed spiders, Lamponidae family, are not dangerously venomous and do not cause ulcerating wounds.
• ·         Wolf spiders, family Lycosidae, are excellent mothers, carrying their newly-hatched children on their backs for several weeks to protect them.
• ·         The most dangerous Australian spiders are the “Huntsman Spiders” (Sparassidae), not because they bite, but because accidents are caused when they startle people.
• ·         Deinopis subrufa, the net-casting spider seen around Toowoomba and elsewhere, has eyes which are 2000 times as sensitive as those of humans. The light sensitive membrane inside their eyes is dissolved at around daylight, and renewed at dark, so that their eyes are not damaged by bright sunlight and the spider is able to hunt its prey in the dark.
• ·         Spiders can’t hold their breath, and can’t “bark” or “call” as they have no vocal cords, but some species produce sound by stridulation, scraping parts of their bodies together as crickets do.
• ·         Some “bird-dropping” spiders not only look like bird poo, but also smell like it!
• ·        Various ant-mimicking spiders in the Salticidae family look similar to ants, and produce pheromones which convince ants that they are family members, allowing the spiders to live with them and feed on their larvae.
• ·         Habronestes bradleyi, a member of the ant-eating Zodariidae family, has smell receptors in its “armpits”, allowing it to sense wounded or straggler ants.

·         Robert showed several images of tiny but beautiful male peacock spiders in the Salticidae family (Jumping Spiders) which dance to display to possible mates, spreading coloured body flaps and fringes and raising their third pairs of legs. Each species has a different colour pattern and display.

Spiders are millions of years older than insects and now predate them massively, globally consuming as much food daily as humans. Because many are very small, they are often overlooked. Instead of the four thousand plus species now known, scientists expect that in reality there are probably closer to 20,000 species. So, keep looking, Field Nats, it is likely that you may find undescribed species in your own backyards! A big thank-you to Robert Whyte and Anne for their enthralling presentation.

Robert Whyte, co-author of A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia, CSIRO Publishing 2017

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Whyte

WITH the CHINCHILLA NATS at the BUNYAS (Report by Patricia Gardner)

Four Toowoomba Field Nats accepted the invitation of the Chinchilla Field Nats to join them on their weekend outing there a few weeks ago. We had a glorious time of it. Members of the Bunya Mountains Natural History Association joined in (some Chinchilla Nats are also members of this organisation), and for us Toowoomba-ites it was a real pleasure to be surrounded by so much expertise, particularly on the birds, insects, and plants we found there. We have this in our own Club, too, of course, but we all enjoyed spending some leisurely time with a different group of people, who shared so many of our interests but had a different (though overlapping) body of knowledge and experiences. Discussions included the recent mystery deaths of three large bunya trees, the likely future effects on the bunya forests of global warming in a place where this species prefers the highest altitudes. We spent some time looking for young bunyas and wondering whether there might be fewer young seedlings in the forest than perhaps there should be, for the continued health of the forest.

Those of us who “did everything”, from beginning to end, managed five walks between Carbine’s chute at one end of the Bunyas and the Mt. Kiangarow grasstrees at the other, and a visit to "Cedarvale", the historic slab hut premises of the Natural History group.

With its altitude, the area is relatively cool, and most of our walking was in the shade of the forests so the heat which had stay-at-homes sweltering that weekend was not a problem for us. Some of us shared hired houses with the Chinchilla Nats, and were delighted with just how much birdwatching could be done from the shady verandah, with the forest edge so close by.

Yellow Sand Wasp (Bembix palmata)

One of the weekends highlights was watching the ground wasps working at their holes at the end of the Mt. Kiangarow walk. Some of you will remember them from our own club’s visit to the Bunyas a few years ago. Don identified them (tentatively) then, as Bembix palmata (Yellow Sand Wasp). The holes are nests for egg-laying and raising their larvae, which they feed with small flies. On this trip, we noted that more than one wasp seemed to visit each hole. The internet tells us that others have noticed this behaviour, and theorised that one wasp is providing the larva (or larvae?) with food, while the other guards the nest from predators which might parasitise the baby wasps. Are they a male/female pair? We had no way of knowing.

We have also found no explanation for the prevalence of wasps in this patch just a few metres across. Are they a community, or simply a collection of individuals who are all taking advantage of a suitable site? Don and I have noticed the same phenomenon at Bladensburg National Park, where, (unlike at Mt. Kiangarow), there seems to be plenty of suitable ground to choose from. In that case, the diggings were again restricted to a circle 2-3 metres across, slightly raised in comparison with the flat soil all around. Is this communal behaviour? Or were we merely seeing a collection of solitary wasps (or pairs) who were making use of soil improved for their purposes by previous digging?

We found this and plenty to wonder at, on our Bunya weekend. Thank you, Chinchilla Nats, for including us on your wonderful weekend

Bird List from Bunya Mountains outing with Chinchilla Field Naturalists 12-14 January 2018

Thanks to Bernice Seton (Bell Bird Watching group) who collated this list and kindly shared her expertise and experience with our group on our walks.

Eastern Spinebill, Golden Whistler (H), Noisy Pitta (H), Eastern Whipbird (H), Lewin’s Honeyeater, White-browed Wren, Wedgetail Eagle (2), Black-faced Monarch (2), Yellow Thornbill, Satin Bowerbird, Spotted Pardalote (H), Grey Fantail, Grey Shrike-thrush, White-throated Treecreeper (H), Red Browed Finch, Pied Currawong, Silver Eye (H), Brown Thornbill, Brown Gerygone, Yellow-throated Scrubwren (plus nest), Brown Pigeon, Grey Goshawk, Green Catbird, Paradise Riflebird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Large-billed Scrubwren, Fantail Cuckoo, Crimson Rosella, King Parrot.     (H= Heard only)

Bird watching on Westcott Trail

HONEYEATERS in DURIKAI STATE FOREST - article and photos by Al Young

Durikai State Forest (SF) is located about 90 kilometres south of Toowoomba on the Cunningham Highway. Most of the SF is on the southern side of the Cunningham Highway and it covers about 13,000 hectares and is located in what is often called the Trap Rock Country. In this area, the soils are generally shallow with quite low fertility and water holding capacity. However, despite these apparent soil deficiencies the area has a fairly complex vegetation structure and high species diversity of plants and birds, especially honeyeaters.

The main vegetation type is a mixed dry sclerophyll forest dominated by Eucalyptus species, including Tumble-down Gum (Eucalyptus dealbata), White Box (E. albens), Yellow Box (E. melliodora), Grey Box (E. macro-carpa), Narrow-leafed Iron Bark (E.crebra) and Mugga Iron Bark (E. sideroxylon). There are also areas of Cypress Pine (Callitris spp) and Paperbarks (Melaleuca spp) in the moister areas. There is generally a well- developed understory of shrubs and grasses.

One of the most productive birding sites is a small dam, sometimes known as the Durikai Waterhole, which is covered with rushes and reeds. This dam or waterhole provides an excellent drinking spot for birds because in addition to the cover provided by the rushes, the forest vegetation comes very close to the edge of the water, thus allowing birds good additional cover from predators while drinking.

Over the past four years I have visited this dam 10 times over all seasons and have recorded 15 species of honeyeaters. This dam is certainly a ‘hot spot’ for honeyeaters. Although this ‘survey’ mainly concentrated on the birds coming to drink, in order to get photos I also noted other species, such as Brown, Striped, and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters which were identified by their calls. The survey method was biased because it concen-trated mainly on the area where most birds came to drink and afforded the best spots for photography. Never-theless, these observations might be of interest to ‘honeyeater fans’.

The number of times each species of honeyeater was recorded (sighting or call) during the study was quite variable, so the graphs (sighting or call) during the study was quite variable, so the graphs below show the frequency of occurrence as a percentage (f%) over the 10 observation periods. (See bar graphs below.)

Fucous Honeyeater

White-naped Honeyeaters

The honeyeaters most frequently seen were: Yellow-tufted (100%), Yellow-faced (100%), Noisy Friarbird (90%) and White-naped (80%). Five species, Little Friarbird, Striped, Lewin’s, Spiny-cheeked were only recorded once. Although no attempt was made to count the number of each species coming in to drink, it was apparent that Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters were the most abundant (or the thirstiest!), followed by White-naped, Fuscous and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters. It was nice to see several species that I rarely see up close, such as Black-chinned, Brown-headed and White-eared Honeyeaters.

Black-chinned Honeyeater

It was also interesting to note that while the honeyeaters were ‘in drinking mode’ there was no apparent aggression or chasing behaviour that is so often associated with honeyeaters. Yellow-tufted, White-naped, and Fuscous Honeyeaters plus Noisy Friarbirds often shared the same space at ‘the bar’.

So why haven’t I recorded any White-throated and White-plumed Honeyeaters at this dam? Wrong habitat or mis-identifications? White-throated and Black-chinned Honeyeaters are very similar in appearance and so are Fuscous and White-plumed. The later species is more often associated with rivers and creeks (riverine habitats) in Durikai rather than dams. It is often difficult to pick the difference between Black-chinned and White-throated Honeyeaters unless you can see the black chin, blue crescent-shaped patch above eye and whitish nape band that reaches the eye in the Black-chinned Honeyeater. White-throated Honeyeaters tend to prefer the moister forest habitats and may be absent from Durikai. It is also a good idea to ‘brush-up’ on the calls of these honeyeaters because they are quite different and will certainly assist with your identifications.

In addition to honeyeaters there are also other interesting species, which included Turquoise Parrot (only seen twice), Dusky and White-browed Woodswallow, Australian Raven, Crested Shrike-tit, to name a few. So, for a great day’s birding head to Durikai Dam/Waterhole and sit quietly near the water’s edge and enjoy the experi-ence. Once the birds become accustomed to your presence they will come quite close in order to drink. Recently White-naped Honeyeaters were dipping into the water and then perched on a branch about one metre above my head and proceeded to ruffle their feathers spraying water droplets on my bald pate. Marvellous!

Brown-headed Honeyeater

Noisy Friarbird

Yellow-tufted Honeyeater

 (Article and photos by Al Young)

BONES

A rather more substantial nest than the gerygones was located further around the edge of the dam on a small treed promontory. It was made up from sticks of reasonable size and looked to be a sturdy platform. A whistl-ing kite was flying in the area and the nest matched the general construction expected of that species. There were a number of bones on the ground in the vicinity of the nest. Those collected appear to be part of a wallaby jaw, a possum skull and a smaller skull which has not yet been identified. Whistling kites are scavengers and eat carrion of all descriptions as well as catching the occasional small prey.

(Article and photo by Diana Ball)

OUTING REPORT Lake Cressbrook and the Munro Tramway, Sunday 05 November

Over the course of the day 21 people attended for all or part of this very relaxed outing. Thank you to Diane Pagel for her efforts in organising this. Thanks also to Donalda and Graham Rogers for our morning bird list and Mike Ford for the afternoon recording.

We met at the Cressbrook picnic area for a walk along the shoreline and local area. An abundance of Eastern Grey Kangaroos rested in the shade apparently indifferent to us. Groups of water birds including Pelicans, Cormorants were occasionally disturbed by motorised human activities. Following morning tea, we drove to the camping site where a Koala was keenly observed. We enjoyed a leisurely walk along the shoreline observing the scrub such as Eucalypt and Ironbark trees and various grasses.

Among our general sightings was the tiny White-throated Gerygone which drove off a pair of Noisy Friarbirds from their hanging nest, a Whistling Kite circling and the Red-backed Wren.

Following lunch and a very interesting and well-informed discussion by Diane on the local Geological features, we drove to the Perseverance Creek Restoration project with billboard information of the cattle rest, trees and timber. We then visited the Munro Tramway for a late afternoon stroll (see bird list). In addition to billboarded information, Jan Veacock shared her local historical knowledge of logging, bullock transport and saw milling near Argyle house and Murphy’s Creek. This indeed was a very interesting and informative day.

(Report by Sandy Eastoe)

Bird List Munro's Tramway: Spangled Drongo; Olive- backed Oriole; Sacred Kingfisher; Rufous Whistler; Rainbow Lorikeet; Lewin’s Honeyeater; Grey Shrike-thrush. (Compiled by Mike Ford)