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Project Noah Nature School
Dindymus versicolor
I think this is the second instar. Quite small at about 8mm long body. Although it has been a tough season for small critters there were many dozens in the immediate area.
This one on eucalyptus leaf but others nearby were on several other very different plants. In a local sports and nature reserve.
These are native to south-eastern Australia. When they appear it is often in huge numbers and they are well known as a potential pest to gardeners here. The dramatic colours are thought to warn of very bad taste and it certainly seems to work as I have never seen any creatures eat these, including all birds.
order: HEMIPTERA
suborder: HETEROPTERA
infraorder: PENTATOMOMORPHA
superfamily: PYRRHOCOROIDEA
family: PYRRHOCORIDAE
Distribution http://spatial.ala.org.au/?q=lsid:%22urn...
Suspected first instar here https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:...
Spotted on Mar 19, 2014
Submitted on Apr 4, 2014
1 Comment
Good photo Mark. They do have a good nose (?) as there are about 20 on a dead mouse in my yard. I have found one creature that eats them but I am not sure which I prefer http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/173...