Bugs About

02/03/2025

A massive thank you to everyone who contributed to the this season!! We now have over 18,000 sightings, enough to compile some meaningful data around the various Christmas Beetle species and start to identify those under threat. We are still crunching the numbers, but by the end of the year we hope to have some outcomes that we can share. The power of cannot be underestimated in the natural world! Stay tuned.... Image credits: Eucalyptus Emily and Connor Margetts

29/01/2025

A very intelligent invertebrate

Research shows cuttlefish exhibit cognitive skills comparable to human children.

In a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B., researchers adapted the famous "marshmallow test" for marine creatures, challenging them to forgo a less preferred food (prawns) in favor of a delayed but more desirable meal (live shrimp).

Common cuttlefish demonstrated the ability to delay gratification, a skill traditionally associated with humans and other highly intelligent animals.

All six cuttlefish in the experiment displayed self-control, tolerating delays of up to 130 seconds — a level comparable to primates, crows, and parrots. Intriguingly, cuttlefish that excelled at waiting were also better at adapting to new reward-based learning tasks, suggesting a link between self-control and cognitive flexibility.

What makes this discovery even more remarkable is the lack of behaviors like tool use, food caching, or complex social structures — traits typically associated with delayed gratification — in cuttlefish.

Instead, researchers speculate this ability evolved to help them survive their predator-filled environments, where breaking camouflage to forage requires careful timing and precision. By optimizing their foraging strategies, cuttlefish may have developed this cognitive skill as a byproduct of their unique lifestyle.

Learn more: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2020.3161

23/01/2025

:) :) :)

After almost being wiped out by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20, the Mount Kaputar pink slug is back from the brink of extinction! 🩷

This rare, bright-pink slug has managed to hold on despite a previously grim outlook after an estimated 90 per cent of its population was wiped out during the fires. In early 2020, it was confirmed by park rangers that 60 of the slugs had been spotted after heavy rainfall. In the five years since, there have been over 850 reported sightings.

The slugs' recovery has been monitored thanks to citizen scientists using the Slug Sleuth app, which allows national park visitors to report their slug sightings.

23/12/2024

What a great guy. Thanks for all your hard work Emile.

10/12/2024

https://theconversation.com/around-9-000-species-have-already-gone-extinct-in-australia-and-well-likely-lose-another-this-week-new-study-241362?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3gP73uUNqm93MNLMYcSM37mVu5OeQZBBwvcyTeL7JygWFCQqv73kSJoRw_aem_YqLmbit2J7w_8Im4mWk8Qw

A new study estimates there have been more than 9,000 Australian invertebrate extinctions since 1788. Only one has been officially listed.

05/12/2024

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Come along tonight to start the celebrations. Visit the Bugs, grab some food, and get your voices ready.

It's carols day!!
The band and choir are all ready to sing. The stalls are ready to go!
The nativity cast are excited and we are looking forward to seeing you there!
Pre-show activities from 5.30pm, carols begin at 7pm.
Warrina St Oval, Berowra.

09/11/2024

And the winner is….

The moth or the butterfly? The stick insect or the hoverfly? The beetle or the bee? Can you guess which is the inaugural ABC Australian Insect of the Year?

26/10/2024

Halloween this week. Remember your invertebrate anatomy when decorating. 😜

24/10/2024

Condolences to friends and family. Thank you Geoff for all you did.

Vale Geoff Monteith 1942-2024
Many of you will have known Geoff Monteith BSc, PhD who was a highly esteemed entomologist, a former senior curator of insects at the Queensland Museum, a teacher who loved sharing knowledge and who nurtured young scientists with immense dedication. Geoff also went to great extend supporting community groups. It is therefore no surprise that he was the first entomologist to be consulted when Brisbane’s Big Butterfly Count was in the development phase.
He was a Queensland Museum Medallist, an Australian Natural History Medallist, a Queensland Natural History Award Winner. Geoff has so many insects named after him that he is among the ten most commemorated scientists worldwide. He shares this honour with the likes of Charles Darwin, Alfred Walter Russel, and Alexander von Humboldt.
We will miss a beautiful human being and a great inspiration to many.

22/10/2024

Nice work Ravi from Feathered Friends. Love that when this situation was made public lots of wildlife champions came to the rescue of this bird. Love that the general community got behind the welfare of this bird and knew the kill order wasn’t the way to go about solving this issue. Respect to all involved in this rescue.

Mickey has been rescued ✊🫶
Tomorrow morning he will be released back into the area. I assure you Mickey won't go back into the centre. This boy was so relieved to see blue sky's. Four weeks trapped in a shopping centre is enough to turn him away. I'm so glad I saw this on socials this morning and I had the day off to suss it out!

Apparently our website is down 🤦🏾‍♂️🙄 and I hate asking! But if you would like to make a small donation towards the care of any of the sanctuary's Cockatoos please see below. Zero pressure. But thank you 🙏 🫶
Account name: Feathered Friends
Bank: NAB
BSB: 082799
Account number: 130443395

19/10/2024

16/10/2024

A free webinar for encouraging beneficial bugs to your garden.

As part of our No Spray Spring campaign, Invertebrates Australia is hosting a webinar. Special guests Costa Georgiadis Official (Gardening Australia) and Mel Logozzo (Rewilding Suburbia) will join Invertebrates Australia founders Dr Kate Umbers and Professor Tanya Latty, and IA No Spray Spring champion Dr Lizzy Lowe, to discuss beneficial bugs, supporting nature, and how to have a thriving garden without the need for pesticides.

Registration is free and there will also be a chance to ask your questions. Sign up at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LQ-ScoKWThqpr0WLhqnpOQ

15/10/2024

The ABC is running its first annual insect of the year competition.

The finalists make this a super hard decision for me. What is your favourite out of the finalists?

Do ihttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-12/australian-insect-of-the-year-online-poll/104276022?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3eszcSPx_N-F5xzeUGxXDe34ZzK4fluWkN4rPAFa00VhgJ1bl4L_HPcUY_aem_ys9rlYLXBMgQ7jtOm_82Fw

The ABC has begun its quest to find out which native six-legged marvel is Australia's most popular insect for 2024. Six experts have selected their finalists for an online poll.

10/10/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/C1HtMTSuMpGLeDVv/?mibextid=WC7FNe

01/10/2024

Key matchstick grasshoppers were thought to be extinct.

Now, the largest translocation of grasshoppers to a new habitat where they can thrive is taking place. Prof Michael Kearney from our Faculty of Science at Melbourne has been instrumental in this project.

🔗 Learn more → unimelb.me/3Xum5JS

20/09/2024

What’s your plans for tomorrow? Our plans are to hang out at RJ Spring festival.

Come along for food, rides, activities and Bugs!!!

15/09/2024