banksia bulletin
issue number 033 - autumn 2009
Friends of Bayside 2009 contact list Bayside Environment Friends Network Coordinator: Barbara Jakob Mobile: 0408 032 963 Email: Barbara@bjakob.com.au
Friends of Long Hollow Heathland/ Friends of Table Rock Coordinator: Ken Rendell 33 Clonmore Street, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 4452
Friends of Balcombe Park Coordinator: Joan Couzoff 26 Balcombe Park Lane, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 1060
Friends of Gramatan Avenue Heathland Sanctuary Coordinator: Ken Rendell
Acknowledgements Thank you to all the people who have contributed to this issue of Banksia Bulletin. The editors encourage people to submit articles, however Bayside City Council reserves the right to edit or omit articles. Artwork, illustrations and photographs can also be submitted to feature in the publication.
Friends of Merindah Park and the Urban Forest Coordinator: David Cockburn 72 Spring Street, Sandringham 3191 Phone: (03) 9598 6148
Disclaimer The views expressed in the Banksia Bulletin are not necessarily those of Bayside City Council or its representatives.
Friends of Native Wildlife Coordinator: Michael Norris (Southern Ward Councillor) 5 Deakin Street, Hampton 3188 Phone: (03) 9521 0804 Email: menorris@ozemail.com.au
Editors Amy Hough and Fiona Dodge
Friends of Bay Road Reserve Coordinator: Michael Norris (Southern Ward Councillor) 5 Deakin Street, Hampton 3188 Phone: (03) 9521 0804 Email: menorris@ozemail.com.au BRASCA Coordinator: Janet Ablitt 4A Fairleigh Avenue, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 6646 Friends of Brighton Dunes Coordinators: Elizabeth McQuire 34 Normanby Street, Brighton 3186 Phone: (03) 9592 6474 and Jenny Talbot 71 Champion Street, Brighton 3186 Phone: (03) 9592 2109 Friends of Cheltenham Park Coordinator: Valerie Tyers Phone: (03) 9588 0107 Email: valerietyers@hotmail.com Cheltenham Primary School Sanctuary PO Box 289, Cheltenham 3192 Phone: (03) 9583 1614 Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve Coordinators: Alison and Bill Johnston 4 Wellington Avenue, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 5459 Friends of George Street Reserve Coordinators: Val Tarrant 47 Bayview Crescent, Black Rock 3193 Phone: (03) 9598 0554 Email: vtarrant@ozemail.com.au and Pauline Reynolds 9 Reno Road, Sandringham 3191 Phone: (03) 9598 6368
Friends of Ricketts Point Landside Coordinator: Sue Raverty 5 Rosemary Road, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 2103 Email: sraverty@westnet.com.au Friends of Watkins Bay Coordinator: Moira Longden 73 Dalgetty Road, Beaumaris 3195 Phone: (03) 9589 2725 Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc Convenor: Phil Stuart PO Box 7356, Beaumaris 3193 Mobile: 0419 366 513 NED (New Environmental Directions) at Elsternwick Park Coordinator: Neil Blake Port Phillip EcoCentre, cnr Herbert and Blessington St, St Kilda 3182 Phone: (03) 9534 0413 Email: neilblake.ecocentre@iinet.net.au St. Leonards College Conservation Group Contact: Tim Barlow 163 South Road, Brighton East 3187 Phone: (03) 9909 9300 Email: Timothy.Barlow@stleonards.vic. gov.au
Cover photograph: Allocasuarina species by Pauline Reynolds
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Copy deadlines 2009 Copy deadlines are set for the first Friday of the month of release: Winter 2009 Friday 5th June for release end June Spring 2009 Friday 24th Sept for release end Sept Banksia Bulletin is published quarterly by Bayside City Council to service people interested in enjoying and protecting the local environment. If you would like to be added to the Banksia Bulletin mailing list, please contact Bayside City Council on 9599 4444 or email: banksia@bayside.vic.gov.au. Please indicate whether you would prefer to receive your Banksia Bulletin by post or via email. Corporate Centre PO Box 27 Royal Avenue SANDRINGHAM VIC 3191 Telephone: 9599 4444 www.bayside.vic.gov.au enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au Hours of business 8.30am – 5pm Monday – Friday (except public holidays)
Printed on 100% recycled paper.
banksia bulletin - autumn 2009
In this ISSUE Friends of Brighton Dunes Jenny Talbot Friends of George Street Reserve Valerie Tarrant and Pauline Reynolds
From the Mayor 4
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Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve Alison Johnston
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Friends of Ricketts Point Landside Sue Raverty
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Black and white moths Peter Marriott
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The guardian of the shark cave Peter Dedrick
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The lazy person’s guide to butterfly watching Val La May
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Farewell for a little while Amy Hough Our mystery insects identified! Amy Hough Friends of Bayside Working Bee times
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Hasn’t it been great to see some rain! Not only has it provided some much needed water for our parks, bushland and foreshore vegetation, but it has also aided in extinguishing the fires throughout Victoria. Bayside City Council has been able to help with the bushfire recovery efforts, not just by raising funds, but by deploying staff members to assist areas affected by the fires, particularly in the Baw Baw Shire region. Eighteen Bayside staff members, including health officers, building surveyors, environmental health officers, nurses, administrators and the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer, have provided assistance since 12 February. The majority of volunteers have worked at Baw Baw Shire’s Municipal Recovery Centre, doing what they can to assist in the short term, however, the recovery phase and the rebuilding of communities will take many years. On behalf of Bayside City Council, I would like to convey my best wishes for the future to those families who are suffering unprecedented loss and destruction. Earlier this year, Bayside City Council was nominated as a finalist in the 2009 Local Government Professional (LGPro) Awards for Excellence, in the Sustainability Initiative category for its Seaweed Recycling Feasibility Study.
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Council’s study found that contaminated seaweed which needed to be removed from the beach, could be collected and recycled as garden mulch. Our study found that the cost of composting seaweed was comparative with sending it to landfill, which meant that it was both economically and environmentally sustainable. The winners of the 2009 LGPro Awards for Excellence were announced on 19 February 2009 at the Melbourne Town Hall. Unfortunately, Bayside was not successful; the award was won by Towong Shire Council for its Pure Towong Energy – a local government facilitated group solar energy system purchase. However, I am extremely proud of the innovation that Council staff have shown in creating a more sustainable city. As we are always looking at ways to be more environmentally sustainable, I believe this study is leading the way and could benefit other foreshore municipalities. I hope all our readers are enjoying the milder weather and we look forward to more autumn rains to replenish our much-needed water supplies.
Cr James Long Mayor
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Friends of Brighton Dunes (Dr Jim Willis Reserve)
Thirteen years of drought in Victoria. Fours years of virtually no rain through summer. Above average temperatures. A new record for heat set in Melbourne – three consecutive days at the end of January over 43 degrees. Appalling, devastating bushfires, many people dead, countless animals and birds dead, and over 400,000 hectares of forest destroyed. We are in a period of global warming, largely caused by humans with their huge deforestation of the planet and burning of fossil fuels. Because Victoria and South Australia have had only just enough rain in the past, the climate change is affecting us catastrophically.
Every year Victoria burns. We are the most bushfireprone place in the world. Perhaps now state and federal governments will spend the money they should spend on forestry offices in every town, more research and intelligent cool burns. We do not need billions spent on more roads, we need billions spent on effective water and forest management. A cursory study of history over the last several thousand years reveals that destruction of forests, bad water management, and collapse of civilisations go handin-hand. Jared Diamond’s book ‘Collapse’ deals with this.
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It has been a sad experience to see so many plants die over this dry summer. Many mature tea trees (Leptospermum laevigatum) have died. Also many of the coast wattles (Acacia sophorae). Even the she-oaks (Allocasuarina verticillata) have been damaged. Only the marvellously droughtresistant seaberry saltbush (Rhagodia candolleana) has done well. We carry water into little plants, and most would not have survived this summer without our hard labour. Thank you Kevin Gurry, Elizabeth Owen, and Mark Rasmussen of Citywide. For the past several years if adequate follow-up watering isn’t done, most of the plants propagated so skillfully by Carmen and Erika, and the others at the Bayside Community Nursery, will not survive. We water sports grounds. Trees in parks, reserves and streets should be watered by water tanks. (Editors note: Council has been watering selected trees in our parks, reserves and nature strips for the last two years and will continue to do so indefinitely). Climate change affects different parts of the world in many different ways. Some places will be colder. Exactly as predicted
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in the CSIRO report in the early 1980s, Victoria is hotter, drier, and prone to more frequent and more intense bushfires. We have already seen a 1.2 degree rise in average temperatures.
Our natural bushland is much more than a few trees and shrubs. It reminds us what this place was (a paradise) when Europeans came here 200 years ago. It reminds us that there is a natural world of bats, blue wrens, owls, and beetles, as well as the concrete world of houses and motor cars. It reminds us that we are part of nature, and if nature is destroyed so are we.
Jenny Talbot Co-convenor Friends of the Brighton Dunes (Dr Jim Willis Reserve).
Friends of George Street Reserve George Street Reserve has survived the fierce heat of late summer and we are hopeful that cooler weather and much needed rain will stimulate new growth. However, the kangaroo apple (Solanum laciniatum), which has proliferated since the 2006 fire, has a relatively short life, and it’s to be expected that they will begin to droop, wither and die. This species plays a valuable role as a coloniser, developing from seed or root-stock. It grows quickly to provide ground cover and also is a nitrogen fix. Interestingly, the Solanum laciniatum and the similar Solanum aviculare are cultivated ‘as a source of solasodine for making cortico-steroid drugs’ (See Flora of Melbourne: A Guide to the Indigenous Plants of Greater Melbourne, Hyland House, Melbourne, 1993, p. 184). Recently there has been some discussion about the management of the reserve. Hence, Pauline and Val, as joint Coordinators, were grateful to Bayside City Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Adrian Robb, and Infrastructure Services Group Manager, Guy Wilson-Brown, who took time to walk with us along the sandy tracks. They heard about the history of the area, and discovered something of the characteristics of the woodland and precious heath.
We are planning guided walks for the public of Bayside, and further afield, in the height of the wildflower season when the reserve is alive with colour. Bayside’s CEO has confirmed that as a Municipal Reserve classified as a Bushland Area, George Street Reserve has been managed correctly. Council’s policy regarding burned bushland is to fence it in for a minimum of three years, then review the situation. A new review is planned for 2009, with an independent ecological consultant undertaking assessment and making a report to Council. At present the fencing is protecting the new growth, some of which is still emerging, from trampling by people and animals. Friends are continuing with rubbish clearance and weeding, and looking forward to the start of planting in May. We welcome newcomers to working bees – every third Sunday, from 10am to 12noon.
Kangaroo apple (Solanum laciniatum) Photograph by Pauline Reynolds
Valerie Tarrant and Pauline Reynolds Joint Coordinators Friends of George Street Reserve
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Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve
left Plant identification training session Photographs provided by Alison Johnston
Our working bee on 1 February 2009 followed several days of extreme heat. We gathered in the shadiest spot we could find, and Dan from Citywide held a training session in plant identification, concentrating on six indigenous and six weed species, all common in Donald MacDonald Reserve. Plentiful notes were provided and we looked at specimens growing nearby. The first of March was Clean Up Australia Day. We were not registered as an official site, but several members undertook litter collection, using a ‘CanCatcher’, or crawling under the bushes!
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Most of us were engaged in the task of establishing water points for wildlife in the reserve. The memorial to Donald MacDonald was originally intended to include a birdbath, but that function has fallen into disuse owing to difficulties in water supply.
since one of our members had found a drowned skink in a bowl of water left out for dogs.
As we all know, wildlife has suffered very badly during the excessively hot and dry summer.
I went back a week later, after a few days of very strong winds, and all were in place, but one of them in which we had omitted to place a stick, had a drowned millipede.
Recently I noticed that someone had placed several water containers along the Fourth Street side of the reserve, so I thought it would be worthwhile to extend this idea. I obtained advice about construction and placement, and made several from 2-litre plastic milk bottles. The cap is firmly screwed on, and one side panel is cut out as shown in the photo. Of course, various other containers could be used, but these are easily obtained, and free!
We positioned the containers away from the walking tracks, so dogs wouldn’t find them – they empty them too quickly, and could drag them away.
We would be very pleased to receive any feedback about this project. The water won’t be nearly so necessary in times of cooler, and we hope wetter weather.
Alison Johnston
Above Wildlife water points from 2-litre plastic milk bottles Photographs provided by Alison Johnston
Coordinator Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve
At our working bee, they were buried in the ground leaving a few centimetres above soil level to help keep debris out, then filled with water. A stick was pushed into the neck of the bottle, and left hanging over the edge, to provide an escape route for any small creatures that might fall in. The need for this became apparent
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Friends of Ricketts Point Landside It is coming up to three years since we planted the first understorey plants in garden beds around the mature Banksia integrifolia trees in the lawn area of Ricketts Point Landside, just south of the pedestrian traffic lights. We identified a need to protect the trees from root damage and pedestrian traffic, and also to protect the public from falling limbs as these trees age. We decided to create garden beds around the base of the trees, which would complement the more formal look of this area. This part of the site is continually viewed and evaluated by the community because of its proximity to the Ricketts Point Teahouse, and the popularity of the car parking spaces along the side of the road. In May, June and July 2006 we planted various coastal plants with mixed success. It became apparent that a successful planting of grass species such as Austrodanthonia geniculata, Austrostipa flavescens, Poa labillardieri and Ficina nodosa would shield the more sensitive plants from the wind and sun,
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while they in turn became established. During this time some large limbs fell from the banksias and these were recycled into borders for the garden beds, to protect the new plants from being destroyed by lawn mowing. We watered in the summer months because of the drought. Normally we do not water at Ricketts Point Landside because the area is kept reasonably moist by the runoff from the gardens of the adjoining properties. In the subsequent planting season we planted more grasses to replace those that were lost. We replaced some more sensitive plants of which Kennedia prostrata, Correa alba, Clematis microphylla, Dichondra repens and Lomandra longifolia have done reasonably well.
precinct, and that this concept was implemented. In 2009 our garden beds are filling out well and have protected the banksias, as well as helping to create a more interesting and visually pleasing area. Many thanks to our regular volunteers Joan Palmer and Lynda Judkins and Citywide’s Mark Rasmussen for his ideas and guidance.
Sue Raverty Coordinator Friends of Ricketts Point Landside
The only large species planted was Banksia integrifolia, as our main aim is to ensure the survival of the banksia woodland. These struggled, and not many have survived. We deliberately did not plant Rhagodia candollenana and Tetragonia implexicoma as these do exceptionally well and would soon smother the less vigorous plants. We are pleased that our garden bed idea was considered at the planning stage of the risk management of the banksias at the Ricketts Point Teahouse Photographs provided by Sue Raverty banksia bulletin - autumn 2009
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Black and white moths
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Often mistaken for butterflies, these two moths are often seen flying rapidly by, or feeding at flowers in the garden.
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Both are native to this area, and continue as residents, breeding wherever their food plants are present. Contrary to many people’s belief, quite a few moths are day flying, although most are not quite as ‘in-your-face’ as these two. The vine moth (Phalaenoides glycinae) has adapted quite happily to introduced vines. Our neighbour’s Virginia creeper spills magnificently over the fence each spring and summer, providing perfect food for the caterpillars. Individuals often
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visit our buddleia, usually well out of reach of the camera, drawn to the abundant supply of summer nectar.
and the magpie moth caterpillar has been recorded eating it. Peter Marriott
The magpie moth (Nyctemera amicus) is more choosy about its food supply. Cotton fireweed (Senecio quadridentatus) is present in many of the pockets of native vegetation where it is allowed to grow and set seed. All the better for the magpie moth caterpillars that feed on Senecio species. The moth is
Photographs by Peter Marriott 1. Vine moth feeding at buddleia flower. 2. Vine moth caterpillar feeding on Virginia creeper. 3. Magpie moth caterpillar feeding on cotton fireweed.
therefore a less common visitor where meticulous gardeners discard the caterpillar’s food plants. Cape ivy, is also a member of the genus Senecio
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4. Magpie moth feeding at Cape weed. 4
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In the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, there is a large underwater cave that has become known as the ‘Shark Cave’.
The guardian of the shark cave
Photograph by Dave Reinhard
On occasions, up to 20 Port Jackson sharks have been seen there, literally stacked on top of each other as they sleep away the daylight hours. At the entrance to the cave, under a smaller ledge, lives a mature Victorian scalyfin who apparently sees it as his role in life to keep out unwanted intruders. To inspect the occupants of the Shark Cave you need to take a deep breath, dive down about 3-4 metres and hang onto a rock to stop yourself floating up prematurely. Some diving weights, to counteract the
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buoyancy of your wet suit, help in this exercise. Once on the bottom, you are likely to meet the scalyfin face-to-face, as this determined little fish attempts to chase you away.
consists of sea urchins, molluscs, crustaceans and fish. They forage for their food at night when their prey are most active, and often use caves and rocky outcrops as protection during the day.
So what of these interesting sanctuary occupants?
The PJ has two similar-sized dorsal fins. Each fin has a spine at the leading edge, which is reputed to be venomous. The spines of juveniles can be quite sharp, but those of the adults are usually blunt. The spines are sometimes found washed up on beaches and have been mistaken for all sorts of things from bird beaks to goat horns. These spines are
Port Jackson sharks (Heterodontus portusjacksoni ) Port Jackson sharks (PJ’s for short) grow up to 1.5 metres in length and usually live in rocky environments on, or near, the sea bed. They have strong, crushing teeth and their diet usually
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believed to have given rise to the common name of the family, ‘Horn Sharks’. PJs are creatures of habit. They can migrate up to 800 km north in summer, only to return in winter for the breeding season. They usually return to the same area, and often to the same gullies and caves. The breeding season is usually from late winter into spring. At this time, divers regularly observe sharks congregating in caves, under ledges and in gutters. The female lays an egg case which is a tough, dark brown spiral about 7-8 cm wide and 15 cm long. It is common to see them washed up on beaches. When first laid, the egg case is soft and the female uses her mouth to wedge it into a rock crevice where it hardens. One young shark emerges from the case after 10-12 months. On my last visit, a year or so ago, the Melbourne Aquarium had a tank of juvenile PJs, each about 20cm long and a perfect replica of their parents. It would be great to see them in the sanctuary.
Males are grey to purple black. Females are yellow to olive. Both have a fine iridescent blue line around the body margin. Young scalyfins are bright yellow with iridescent lines and a ring on their upper body and fins. Scalyfins are herbivorous (plant eaters) and adults of both sexes tend a territory where they ‘garden’ preferred seaweeds. As noted above, they are very aggressive towards any animals or divers that invade their prized vegetable patch. They typically shelter under a rock or ledges in the middle of their territory. Earlier in the season, shortly after Christmas, I witnessed a pair of scalyfins that were obviously pretty keen on each other, and seemed to be going through a pre-spawning ritual. A diver who went down for a closer view seemed to cramp their style, however, and that was the end of that.
Victorian scalyfin (Parma victoriae)
The amazing thing is that you can see these, and a host of other marine creatures, only 100 metres or so from shore in three to four metres of water.
Scalyfins are Australia’s largest damselfish and grow to 25cm. They have a rounded head with eyes close to a small mouth. The back end of the body is quite square and has a forked tail.
And all for the cost of a mask, snorkel and fins. Marine Care Ricketts Point, the sanctuary Friends group, runs ‘Saturday Snorkels’ each week during the summer and autumn months,
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weather permitting. Instruction is available for beginners. If conditions in the sanctuary are not favourable we venture further afield to places like Rye Pier and the Blairgowrie Marina. Intertidal surveys of marine life and bi-monthly meetings with guest speakers are also features of our activities. Contact Ray Lewis, President of Marine Care Ricketts Point on 9587 7594 or the author on 9584 3414 if you would like further information.
Peter Dedrick Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc
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The lazy person’s guide to butterfly watching To clarify my use of the word ‘lazy’: I do not mean slothful. By ‘lazy’ I mean minimal effort, intelligently expended. ‘Laziness’ is a sign of intelligence, I believe. Following articles on butterflies in the winter and spring issues of Banksia Bulletin in 2008, several friends asked me where to find butterflies and other basic questions, such as how to tell the caper white from the cabbage white butterflies. So, this article is a how-to-do-it explanation, with the aim of easing the way for beginner butterfly watchers. Where to find butterflies Butterflies can be anywhere, but the lazy lepidopterist wants to maximise the chances of encountering these insects. Several factors influence the abundance of butterflies. Weather and season A calm sunny day normally brings out more butterflies than a windy or a cool day. You’d think butterflies can’t fly in the rain and they usually don’t. However, on the Atherton Tablelands, I watched a large Cairns birdwing flying in a tropical downpour. Delicate? Not a bit of it! The butterfly appeared unaffected by the torrent of rain. Most butterflies over-winter as eggs, larvae or pupae, but a few, such as the Australian admiral, can be seen year-round. The lazy lepidopterist will encounter a greater variety of butterflies during the warm months (but extreme heat seems to reduce the numbers seen). Environment Most butterflies need to feed on nectar and their ‘storage-tanks’ are not very large. Hence, an area with lots of flowers (native or introduced) should have more butterflies floating about, compared to a car park or shopping centre for instance. But you can also see some butterflies, such as the small common grass blue, in areas of lawn. Many butterflies establish territories, which they patrol.
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Cabbage white Photograph by John Chapman
On walks to Black Rock beach, there is a patch of nature strip where I can depend on seeing a few common grass blues if the weather is cooperating. It is worth mentioning a potential hazard of amateur lepidoptery at this point. Some observers could doubt the sanity of a walker who is staring fixedly at a seemingly invisible point of nature strip. Especially if the amateur lepidopterist is using binoculars to stare at the nature strip and also wildly gyrating around to follow the flight of the invisible creature. Female butterflies, after mating, will be searching for their particular plant on which to lay eggs. A good source of information about which local plants host butterfly larvae is the book Indigenous plants of the Sandbelt, by Rob Scott et al. Butterflies also need to drink water; so they often congregate around shallow pools, especially in the morning. Following rain, numbers of butterflies may increase (as well as other insects, such as many moths). Gardens The true lazy person will realise that they will save even more effort if they create a butterfly haven at home. No need to venture into the bush, unless overcome by a sudden burst of energy. A few simple measures should bring native butterflies to your garden. If you already have a bird-friendly garden, the changes will not be great. • M assed colours: mass plantings of colourful flowers attract butterflies. Red, blue and yellow are especially favoured, but swathes of any bright colour will be effective in keeping butterflies moving through the garden. • Flower shape and position: flat, simple
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flowers, pea-shaped or tubular blooms make it easier for butterflies to extract nectar. Complex, double-petalled flowers are more difficult for these insects to feed from. • S helter and water: butterflies use the morning sun to warm up, but need shelter from afternoon heat; so provide these areas in your garden. Also, use shallow muddy pools for water and a few flat rocks for butterflies to land on. • H ost plants: plants such as native grasses, wattles, Lomandra sp., etc. provide food for butterfly larvae. For more details consult the resources listed at the end of this article and also the Sandbelt plant book mentioned above. How to watch butterflies Observing butterflies is a lazy person’s dream activity. Grab a beer or beverage of choice, put a lawn chair in a shady bit of the butterfly environment, and wait. Reading a book might pass the time, but you could miss seeing a fast-flying butterfly. Binoculars will help, but it takes lots of practice to follow the sometimes erratic flight of most of these insects. It’s a Zen experience, interspersed with frantic bouts of activity when you do spot something. Or, you could wander slowly through your favourite patch of bush, on the alert for passing wings. Some good local spots are the foreshore cliff-top path, any of the local parks and reserves, and further afield: Braeside Park. Cabbage white and caper white Two local butterflies, which appear white in flight, often confuse the amateur lepidopterist, as they seem similar at first glance. The cabbage white Pieris rapae is an introduced butterfly whose larvae feed on a wide range of introduced plants, especially crucifers such as Brassica species. When the cabbage white lands, you’ll probably notice dark spots in the wings and also that it is actually a very pale yellow. From above, there are also dark patches in the front corner of each forewing, as shown in the photograph taken by John Chapman in his garden. This is possibly the most common butterfly in our area, even along the foreshore. All phases of this butterfly’s life cycle are poisonous—due
to incorporating chemicals from its food plants. By contrast, the caper white Belenois java, has a much more complicated wing-pattern, with many black veins visible on the underside. The underside also has yellow in the cells along the wing-edge. On the wing-tops, the edges have black areas with white cells. The caper white is larger than the cabbage white—it has a wingspan of 55mm, compared to 44mm for the cabbage white. Some years, very large numbers of caper whites migrate through our area, possibly driven here by north winds. Conclusion and resources May the Gods of lepidoptery reward your patience and send lots of beautiful butterflies your way. And maybe even some gorgeous day-flying moths, but that’s another story. For help in studying butterflies, CSIRO and Museum Victoria have excellent websites: http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/ insects/lepidoptera.html http://museumvictoria.com.au/ bioinformatics/butter/ Bayside libraries hold a number of books on butterflies, including the comprehensive guide published by CSIRO: Braby, M.F., The complete field guide to butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing, 2004. (Available on Google Books) Many thanks to John Chapman for his photography.
Val La May Friends of Native Wildlife
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Our mystery insects identified!
Lycid beetle of the family Lycidae Photograph by Pauline Reynolds
Our readers may recall that in the last edition of the Banksia Bulletin (page 17, summer 2008-2009), Pauline Reynolds submitted two photographs, one of a moth and one of a beetle, with a query to our readers to identify them.
“The beetle is a Lycid beetle, of the family Lycidae. This is a diverse group with many different family members looking superficially similar. Hard to tell which one yours is, without seeing more of it, especially its mouthparts.� Best regards, Ian Moodie
We received a couple of responses from readers, Ian Moodie and Peter Marriott, and have included their replies on right:
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Hakea moth (Oenochroma vinaria) Photographs by Peter Marriott
“I am currently president of the Entomological Society of Victoria, and am also publishing a series of books illustrating all of the Victorian moths - the first one is now out, at last!!! I also work one day a week in the insect collection at the Melbourne Museum, so can also bring those on board for difficult IDs. The moth is the hakea moth (Oenochroma vinaria) and it looks like a female. Caterpillars feed on hakeas and grevillea and probably other proteaceae. The bug is not a bug but a beetle. It is a Lycid beetle - Porrostoma sp. There are several possibilities but the individual needs to be captured to put it to species.
They are an interesting group because they are part of a group of similar looking insects, which include other beetles and at least three other insect orders.� Peter Marriott
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Thanks to you both! We are fortunate to have such knowledgeable folk amongst our readers.
Amy Hough Editor
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Farewell for a little while This will be my last edition as Editor of the Banksia Bulletin for a little while as I am about to take 12 months parental leave, commencing at the end of March. Never fear – the Banksia Bulletin is in good hands! Bayside’s Parks Project Officer, Fiona Dodge, will be stepping into my role as the Acting Environment Research Officer (and Editor of the Banksia Bulletin) until my return. She will be ably handling the next four or five editions of the Banksia Bulletin. Fiona can be contacted via email at fdodge@bayside.vic.gov.au or at Bayside City Council on 9599 4444.
Articles, photographs and changes of address or contact details can still be sent via our Banksia Bulletin email at: banksia@bayside.vic.gov.au I will be receiving the Banksia Bulletin while on leave, so I look forward to staying in touch by reading about what you have all been doing. Keep up the wonderful work, I know our foreshore, bushland and other areas of open space are in good hands, and I will miss
Photograph by Pauline Reynolds
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my regular contact with all the Friends who do such an amazing job. Hopefully I will see some of you out and about whilst walking with the pram, as I plan to spend plenty of time enjoying our foreshore, parks and bushlands. Farewell for now and I will be back sometime in 2010. Amy Hough Editor
Friends of Bayside Working Bee times for April to July 2009 Time/Day
Apr
May
JUN
JUL
Balcombe Park
Last Sunday 10am - noon
26th
31st
28th
26th
Bay Road
2nd Saturday 10am - noon
11th
9th
13th
11th
BRASCA
Contact Janet Ablitt Phone: 9589 6646
Brighton Dunes
Tuesdays 8am - 10am
7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
7th, 14th, 21st, 27th
Cheltenham Park
1st Sunday 10am - noon
5th
3rd
7th
5th
Cheltenham Primary
Contact Mary McIntosh Phone: 9583 1614
26th
23rd
Donald MacDonald
1st Sunday 10am - noon
5th
3rd
7th
5th
George Street
3rd Sunday 10am - noon
19th
17th
21st
19th
Gramatan
1st Sunday 1 - 3pm
5th
3rd
7th
5th
Long Hollow
Last Sunday 1pm - 3pm
26th
31st
28th
26th
Friends of Native Wildlife Contact M. Norris
1st Saturday 9.30am
Ricketts Point Landside
3rd Tuesday 1pm - 3pm
21st
19th
16th
21st
Table Rock
Last Tuesday 12.30pm - 2.30pm
28th
26th
30th
28th
Urban Forest & Merindah Park
2nd Sunday 10am - 12pm
12th
10th
14th
12th
Watkins Bay
Last Wednesday 1pm - 3pm
29th
27th
24th
29 th
Gardenvale Primary School
Contact Brigitta Suendermann Phone: 9530 0328
Sandringham East Primary School
Contact Andrew Newton Mobile: 0407 805 168
banksia bulletin - autumn 2009
25th
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www.bayside.vic.gov.au