Insect watch album - Lantern fly

The species of Lantern fly that I saw today is unique in that it was able to camouflage itself to the bark of a big tall jungle tree.  Its wings, head and 'snout' have colours resembling the hues and tinges of the tree bark.  Its head has a 'snout' that is upturned that may look frighteningly  'horny' to its prey.  It was a perfect mimicry.

Lantern fly (Fulgoridae)

Insect watch album - Carpenter Bees

They have made the park their home.  In dead trees they make burrows and like any normal bees are busy buzzing away making more tunnels inside.  There is a small colony of them making these nests at Botanic Island One.  They look menacingly beautiful with colourful metallic wings and a face resembling Darth Vader from the from 'Star Wars'.  I noticed they collect nectar from the flowers of the 'Sebduduk' that grow wild and abundantly at the park. 

Carpenter Bee

Collecting nectar from flowers of the 'Senduduk' (Melastoma malabathricum)

Metallic colour wings

The nests are built facing west.

Burrows in a dead tree at Botanic Island One.

Insect watch album - Red Dragonfly

My observations about the Red Dragonfly is that when they are in abundance there must be some source of unpolluted running water in their immediate vicinity.  They can be watched along the small stream that meanders through the park for about half a kilometer length,  hugging on glass blades or dead twigs for a little rest then hunt for mosquitoes.  Their presence is a live litmus test that the stream water is unpolluted.  The mosquitoes thrive on the swampy grassland areas around the park.