For Sunshine’s Macro Monday #32
It was a public holiday in Canberra today to mark the anniversary of the official naming of Australia’s national capital in 1913. And a beautiful day it was. It is such a privilege to live in this gorgeous city. As well as being the seat of the Federal government, Canberra is the home to a number of research institutions and universities, so we have an abundance of very clever people living here. Some of those people have developed and maintain the Canberra Nature Map, an online map of Canberra’s diverse flora and fauna. It is a live map updated regularly by members. As a result of this wonderful resource, we now know the name of the funky fly I posted photos of recently (see original post).
It was identified as Trichopoda giacomelli. Trichopoda is a genus of tachinid flies, commonly known as the feather-legged flies or hairy-legged flies. They are indigenous to the Americas. Trichopoda giacomelli was released in Australia from 1996 as a biological control agent for the green vegetable bug, Nezara viridula. Nezara viridula, commonly known as the southern green stink bug (USA), Southern green shield bug (UK) or green vegetable bug (Australia and New Zealand), is a plant-feeding stink bug. Although believed to have originated in Ethiopia, the stink bug can now be found around the world. The larvae of Trichopoda feed on the little suckers. That being the case, I thought I would show you a couple of photos of baby stink bugs/shield beetles for this week’s Sunshine Macro Monday.
Here is a bevy of baby bugs sucking the life out of a lucerne seed pod. Eek.
Now how about this colourful beastie (4 Instar of the stink bug life cycle)?
Kudos to my husband who took these lovely photos.
Kind Regards.
Tracy.
He does make the little buggers look adorable, Tracy. Colorful little things, aren’t they?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are green when they are adults. They’re cute babies but I’m happy for the fly to eat them.
LikeLike
Our stink bugs are not nearly as colourful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are plain green when they grow up. I was surprised to see the colour in the babies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Colorful, but nasty. Great shots.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sandy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gosh! They look so pretty! Compliments to your TL, Tracy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Punam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fab shots. Is the fly working out as a biological control? Without bringing new problems?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure how successful they’ve been, Su. Their numbers don’t seem to be large, but their job certainly is. The introduction was thoroughly tested by CSIRO before they were let loose. We certainly don’t want another disaster like the cane toad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad testing was done. I understand the need to fight one invader with another, but I think both our countries have experienced the unintended consequences of that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our possum has a lot to answer for in NZ.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ain’t that the truth. Wallabies aren’t far behind either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Didn’t know you had wallabies too. I’ve learnt something new today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, a few species were imported on the 19th century. ☹️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recall a song that questions the efficacy of some ironic methods of biological pest control. ‘I Know an Old Lady’’ Sung by Burl Ives. The pictures are amazing and delightful. Thank you1 To you and your TL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha. 🙂 We’ve come a cropper before with introduced biological controls, the cane toad being infamous here.
LikeLike
Oh, my goodness. Great shot of a scary little bug. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Late reply, Irene. I found your comment in the spam! Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem. That happens to me as well. Thanks for the reminder to check my spam. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Very lovely noxious varmints!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not a fan of them no matter their loveliness. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen them as adults, of course, but not the infants. Very colourful, like stained glass windows.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they’re very pretty.
LikeLike
Yay for bugs and a photographer 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The photographs of the stink bugs are works of art. I much prefer the works of art to the real thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, Liz.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why are the invaders always so beautiful!?!?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think they want the sympathy vote.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope when the Martians invade they will also be something to look at at least… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
They will be wearing their finest, Dries.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing photos, well done to your TL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Pauline.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing colors! Great captures, Tracy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Amy.
LikeLike
Their coloration is unbelievable: they look jewelled!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the colour is pretty, but my tomatoes!
LikeLike
Sigh …. I feel for your tomatoes!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful resource, love those shots too. We need a bigger version of that fly for the blood suckers in Canberra 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Honestly, Paul, we’ve gone quite feudal here. I think a few bed bugs would be good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely, anything to irritate to drive to cogitate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trichopoda giacomelli? I think I served this with marinara sauce this evening.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re funny. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! You’re so funny, Shari! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eek indeed! But fabulous photos anyway! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person