Black velvet ant (Mutillidae) explores cracks in the bark on a grey gum. Cambroon, QLD.
Cross-section of a leaf with freshly deposited Bramble Sawfly (AKA Red Ash Sawfly Philomastix xanthophylax) eggs. The sawfly drills holes through the top of the leaf and injects the eggs through the hole. After dozens of eggs are laid she crawls exhausted to the stem of the leaf and hangs under it listlessly. Having witnessed the egg laying process it clearly takes a lot of precious resources to complete the task. The first assumption is that she is guarding her eggs but she has no energy at this point to do anything of the sort and is possibly waiting to either die or regain enough energy to fly away. Oxley Creek, QLD.
