Leslie Massey
Western Australia is home to a diverse range of insects, some unique to the state and others found across Australia and the world. From colourful damselflies to the common garden katydid, insects play an essential role in the local ecosystem. However, some insects, such as the European wasp, can be invasive and harmful to people, agriculture, and the environment. Pest insects like the Varroa mite threaten Western Australia's honey bee populations and crops that rely on bee pollination. With over 1,200 ant species in Australia, insects are a common sight, and understanding their behaviour and impact is crucial for maintaining a healthy environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common insects | Ants, spiders, scorpions, bees, dragonflies, damselflies, moths, centipedes, millipedes, mantids, katydids, lacewings, beetles, wasps, flies, mites, borers, snails, and worms |
| Unique species | Spoon-winged lacewings (Chasmoptera), Tanyderidae flies, Dawson's Bee, Mygalopsis, Jewel Beetles, and a metallic green bee species |
| Pest insects | Varroa mite, European wasp, Glassy-winged sharpshooter, Green snail, Guava root-knot nematode, Medfly, Native budworm, Palm leaf beetle, Polyphagous shot-hole borer, Queensland fruit fly, Codling moth, European house borer, and Citrophilus mealybug |
| Notable traits | Large size (scorpions, Scolopendrid centipedes, dragonflies), colourful/iridescent appearance (dragonflies, beetles, bees), unique behaviour (Mygalopsis males "sing"), dangerous (scorpions, centipedes, funnel web spiders), and destructive (Varroa mite, European wasp, European house borer) |
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What You'll Learn
- Dragonflies: 320+ species in Australia, with distinctive markings and colours
- Damselflies: endemic to Western Australia, found near streams
- Blue Ants: bright metallic blue or green, a solitary wasp species
- Common Garden Katydid: a 4-6cm cousin of grasshoppers and crickets
- Assassin Bugs: feed on prey by injecting an enzyme to dissolve their insides
Dragonflies: 320+ species in Australia, with distinctive markings and colours
Dragonflies are insects that can be found in Western Australia. There are over 320 species of dragonflies known to live in Australia, with distinctive markings and colours. This makes it possible to recognise one type from another, much like birds. Different species also emerge at different times of the year. Dragonflies can be found near water, such as streams.
Dragonflies are not flies or dragons, and they have a robust body. The largest dragonfly found in Western Australia has larvae, known as nymphs, that live in holes dug in swampy ground. These nymphs are unique as they leave the water at night to catch prey.
Dragonflies are not the only insects that can be found near water in Western Australia. Damselflies, which are similar to dragonflies, are endemic to Western Australia. They can be found around streams from November to January.
Beeflies have also been spotted in Perth and Lesueur National Park, found on flowering shrubs in November and December. They are predators or parasites of the larvae of other insects, such as wasps, bees, and caterpillars.
With its diverse insect fauna, Western Australia is home to a variety of unique insects, including dragonflies, damselflies, and beeflies, each with their own distinctive features and behaviours.
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Damselflies: endemic to Western Australia, found near streams
Dragonflies and damselflies are large insects that are generally found near freshwater habitats. They are strong fliers, with the dragonflies being more powerful than the damselflies. Dragonflies have large eyes that almost meet at the top of their head, while damselflies have large eyes and long legs. Dragonflies rest with their wings held straight out from their body, while damselflies rest with their wings folded along their backs.
Damselflies are endemic to Western Australia and can be found near streams. They have a long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings, and three pairs of long legs. The larval stage of damselflies is aquatic or semi-aquatic, and they are known as mud-eyes. The larvae use gills to breathe underwater and feed on aquatic invertebrates, tadpoles, and even small fish. Damselfly larvae have gills at the end of their bodies as three appendages.
Damselflies undergo extensive changes during their final moult, adapting from swimming to flight. The adult damselflies have a wingspan of up to 40 mm. They are often found in large swarms during mass feeding frenzies.
The Wandering Ringtail (Austrolestes leda) is a common medium-sized damselfly found across eastern Australia. The brightly coloured males patrol ponds, awaiting visiting females. They will chase rivals and attempt to guard water plants suitable as egg-laying sites.
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Blue Ants: bright metallic blue or green, a solitary wasp species
The Blue Ant, or the Bluebottle, is not an ant but a species of flower wasp from the family Tiphiidae or Thynnidae. They are bright metallic blue or blue-green in colour and can sometimes be mistaken for a large ant. They are a solitary wasp species with fully winged males, and they are often found on flowers. The Blue Ant is endemic to south and southeast Australia, including Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. They can be found in urban areas, forests, and woodlands.
The female Blue Ant is wingless and grows up to 25 mm in length, while the male is smaller at about 15 mm and has wings. They are ground-nesting, with the female making a burrow for her eggs and hunting for beetle larvae and other ground-dwelling insects, such as mole crickets. She paralyses these insects with her sting and lays her eggs on them. The Blue Ant feeds mainly on nectar as an adult.
Blue Ants are unusual within their family as they exclusively hunt mole crickets, while other species of thynnids attack beetle larvae. They are also solitary insects, so they do not pose the same level of threat to humans as social species of bees, ants, or wasps. However, their sting can cause a burning pain and swelling, and multiple stings may lead to a more severe systemic reaction.
The Blue Ant should not be confused with the Blue Mud Wasp, which is also a solitary wasp species with a blue and black sheen. The Blue Mud Wasp is found in North America, Hawaii, and Bermuda, and is famous for preying on black widow spiders.
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Common Garden Katydid: a 4-6cm cousin of grasshoppers and crickets
The Common Garden Katydid is a cousin of grasshoppers and crickets, and a common backyard visitor in Western Australia. It is a member of the Orthoptera order of insects, which means 'straight wings'. They are about 4 to 6 cm in length, with extremely long, thin antennae, and powerful back legs for jumping. They are masters of camouflage, with green colouring and a leaf-like shape that helps them blend into leafy surroundings. They are most active at night and can be found all over Australia wherever there are leafy plants.
Katydids go through several stages of development and moulting before reaching adulthood. Juvenile katydids, called nymphs, can be brown, green, greenish-brown, or even pink, depending on their surroundings. They are easier to spot than adult katydids, as they are smaller and lack fully developed wings and reproductive organs. Nymphs move slowly but can jump if disturbed, and they seek shelter under leaves during wet weather.
Katydids have hearing organs called tympani on their front legs, just below the knee. They are primarily nocturnal, producing distinctive mating calls to attract mates. Male katydids play songs to attract females by rubbing their wings together, creating a sound that is supposed to sound like 'Katy-did'. Some katydid songs are at too high a frequency for humans to hear.
Katydids are widespread, occurring in every region of the world except Antarctica. They are especially abundant in the tropics, such as the Amazon Rainforest, but they are also found in cooler and drier regions like the heathlands of Australia. They typically live on trees, bushes, or grasses, often matching the appearance of their surroundings.
To attract katydids to your garden, you can plant Eucalyptus, Banksia, or Acacia.
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Assassin Bugs: feed on prey by injecting an enzyme to dissolve their insides
Western Australia is home to a diverse range of insects, with many unique species. Among these is the assassin bug, a member of the Reduviidae family, known for its distinctive hunting technique.
Assassin bugs are stealthy predators, often employing camouflage and ambush tactics to target their prey. They are found all over the world and are highly adaptable, thriving in various habitats, including dense forests and open grasslands. They are solitary hunters, rarely forming colonies or swarms, and are known for their precision strikes and ability to subdue prey efficiently.
The assassin bug's primary weapon is its curved proboscis or beak, which it uses to inject toxins or digestive enzymes into its prey. This liquefies the internal organs of the prey, allowing the bug to easily suck out the nutritious contents. The saliva contains enzymes that aid in digesting the tissues they swallow, a process known as extraoral digestion. This method of feeding is both quick and efficient, allowing assassin bugs to immobilize and consume their prey with remarkable speed.
While most assassin bugs are insectivores, some species are bloodsuckers, including the kissing bug, which can transmit diseases like Chagas disease. These blood-sucking species have evolved to take advantage of warm-blooded hosts, including humans, although most assassin bugs pose little threat to people unless provoked. The bites of some species, such as the wheel bug, can be intensely painful.
Assassin bugs are incredibly adaptable and versatile predators, employing unique hunting strategies to feed on a variety of prey. Their ability to liquefy the insides of their prey through enzyme injection showcases their efficient and effective hunting techniques, making them a force to be reckoned with in the insect world.
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Frequently asked questions
It could be a Common Brown Butterfly, which is found in Western Australia and is active in spring and summer.
It might be a Blue Ant, which can grow up to 2.5 cm long and is found all over Australia.
It could be a European wasp, which is common in Perth and is harmful to people and the environment. Alternatively, it could be a Common Garden Katydid, which is about 4 to 6 cm long and is a cousin of the grasshopper and cricket.
It could be a Green Lacewing, which is beneficial for bug control, or a stick or leaf insect, which eats leaves and resembles sticks or leaves.
