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By Dave Newman
INSECTS and arachnids are critical for a healthy ecosystem, but they are in serious decline around the world. Habitat destruction, pesticides, pollution, invasive species and now climate change are having a huge impact on our insects.
Locally, the Western Port Woodlands offer a refuge for our creepy crawlies and I thought I would share some photos of just a few that we have encountered over the last several years.
It's difficult to get people interested in these amazing little creatures, but we need to start looking after them as they are also crucial to humans, being our main pollinators. So next time you see a bug or a spider, don't squash or spray it, let it go on its way!
INSECTS and arachnids are critical for a healthy ecosystem, but they are in serious decline around the world. Habitat destruction, pesticides, pollution, invasive species and now climate change are having a huge impact on our insects.
Locally, the Western Port Woodlands offer a refuge for our creepy crawlies and I thought I would share some photos of just a few that we have encountered over the last several years.
It's difficult to get people interested in these amazing little creatures, but we need to start looking after them as they are also crucial to humans, being our main pollinators. So next time you see a bug or a spider, don't squash or spray it, let it go on its way!
Bass Coast Post: Why do you think so many people fear insects and spiders?
Dave Newman: Fear of spiders and other insects (as well as snakes) is a learned behaviour in my opinion. We’re not born instinctively frightened of these animals, but we are constantly being told they something to be feared.
I have many friends who are snake and spider keepers. None of their kids fear snakes or spiders. Respect them, yes, fear them, no. That's not coincidence!
It's something we need to address in this country, as our attitude towards wildlife is often appalling. I find it ironic when I speak to many horse riders, particularly at the Adam's Creek Reserve, and they sometimes tell me they feel safe being up and away from snakes and spiders. The irony is that riding a horse is statistically far more dangerous! Annually in Australia, an average of 23 people die from interactions with horses compared to one to two deaths from snake bite. Cows and dogs are not far behind horses in causing human deaths.
Post: When did you start enjoying insects? As a kid or later in life?
Dave: I've been obsessed with wildlife as far back as I can remember. Reptiles were my first love, but I think it's only a natural progression to want to learn about all the other critters you encounter when you're out bush walking.
Dave Newman: Fear of spiders and other insects (as well as snakes) is a learned behaviour in my opinion. We’re not born instinctively frightened of these animals, but we are constantly being told they something to be feared.
I have many friends who are snake and spider keepers. None of their kids fear snakes or spiders. Respect them, yes, fear them, no. That's not coincidence!
It's something we need to address in this country, as our attitude towards wildlife is often appalling. I find it ironic when I speak to many horse riders, particularly at the Adam's Creek Reserve, and they sometimes tell me they feel safe being up and away from snakes and spiders. The irony is that riding a horse is statistically far more dangerous! Annually in Australia, an average of 23 people die from interactions with horses compared to one to two deaths from snake bite. Cows and dogs are not far behind horses in causing human deaths.
Post: When did you start enjoying insects? As a kid or later in life?
Dave: I've been obsessed with wildlife as far back as I can remember. Reptiles were my first love, but I think it's only a natural progression to want to learn about all the other critters you encounter when you're out bush walking.
Post: There must be millions of species. How do you identify them?
Dave: Only in recent years have we been trying to take more time to identify the insects we encounter. Identifying them can be extremely challenging. There are a few I can identify on sight but way more I can't. Improved field guides and more recently apps and things like facebook groups make identification a lot easier although even then you may only get to Genus level.
Post: I know you're a serious birdwatcher. Is insect watching as addictive as bird watching? Do people talk about "rare" insects and arachnids?
Dave: Identification can become a little addictive for me, as the more you learn, the more you want to find out. I do know a couple of "bug people" and they can become just as obsessed as any mad twitcher or herper.
I sent a photo of the Temognatha sanguinipennis [the red and black beetle above] to one and asked him if they were rare. His response was: "Well put it this way: when a friend spotted one in the Grampians, I drove down there from Newcastle (NSW) just to try and find one”.
Post: Some of your photos show spectacularly beautiful creatures. What's your favourite?
Dave: That’s a tough one. Certainly some of the butterflies in the northern tropics are up there amongst my favourites such as the Ulysses Butterfly.
Dave: Only in recent years have we been trying to take more time to identify the insects we encounter. Identifying them can be extremely challenging. There are a few I can identify on sight but way more I can't. Improved field guides and more recently apps and things like facebook groups make identification a lot easier although even then you may only get to Genus level.
Post: I know you're a serious birdwatcher. Is insect watching as addictive as bird watching? Do people talk about "rare" insects and arachnids?
Dave: Identification can become a little addictive for me, as the more you learn, the more you want to find out. I do know a couple of "bug people" and they can become just as obsessed as any mad twitcher or herper.
I sent a photo of the Temognatha sanguinipennis [the red and black beetle above] to one and asked him if they were rare. His response was: "Well put it this way: when a friend spotted one in the Grampians, I drove down there from Newcastle (NSW) just to try and find one”.
Post: Some of your photos show spectacularly beautiful creatures. What's your favourite?
Dave: That’s a tough one. Certainly some of the butterflies in the northern tropics are up there amongst my favourites such as the Ulysses Butterfly.
Ulysses Butterfly
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Hope we catch up soon on a walk somewhere.
I know it is sad that people have phobias which I has found is often caused by their parents fears. You known kill every thing you fear, don’t understand or don’t like. The sad thing I see is the poor old Huntsman spider is sprayed with insect spray and people think that it is dead but the poor thing is only paralyzed and not able to feed itself and very slowly starves to death over days. This can be seen as its abdomen shrivel and take days to die.
I do not like to spray mossies because often there is a huntsman behind a painting or photo frame.
Spraying outside and around the house deprives any small bird of food.
As for snakes I picked up a tiger snake earlier this year and relocated him/her to a bushy gully up the road.
reluctant to handle them nowadays as my reflexes are not what they used to be ! Good on you for looking out for our insects.