Macro Nerd

11/08/2026

Just a couple of shots of a Charcoal Stingless Bee (Tetragonula Carbonara) poking its tongue out 😜. These two were foraging on the native flowers when I moved to my new property a year ago, and I was so happy to see this, particularly in the middle of winter.

These little ones are the most common native bee in Ewingar NSW, and one of our very few natives that actually build a hive and produce honey. They are hard working little bees, and sensitive to cold, so only emerge from their hive when the temperatures are around 18 degrees celsius and above. If the temperature gets too hot, they can perish, most likely at temperatures of 42 degrees and above. This usually means much shorter active times during winter, and some days they will stay snuggled inside their hive all day to stay warm. This also means it is crucial for the careful placement of a hive if you decide to caretake your own. I moved mine over last year to meet their new friends and I'm happy with the spot I chose as they receive the warm sun in the morning, particularly in winter, and have shade in the hot summer afternoons.

In winter I let some of the wild "weeds" grow so they have extra flowers to forage on. It always amazes me though how nature provides flowers all year round from the different species of trees and shrubs that stagger their flowering periods.

Many call these the Sugarbag Bee, as they store their honey in little resin pots they construct from beeswax and plant resin (propolis). Their honey has a unique flavour and is highly valued, and being so small (about 3-4mm), it takes them a little while to store up enough honey worth harvesting. These two seen on 3rd September, 2025.

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📷 Olympus OM-D EM5 Mark III
🔎 Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro Lens + Raynox DCR250
⚡️Godox V350O
☂️ Cygnustech Diffuser
🎞 Handheld Single Shots
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03/08/2026

A little Northern Sharkfinned Dolly Ant (Dolichoderus scrobiculatus) posing on one of my Grevilia flowers. The common name is very interesting, but when you break it up it makes sense. The "Northern" part points to their being native to Northern parts of Eastern Australia, although they have been spotted as far south as Newcastle in NSW. The 'Sharkfin' refers to their highly arched, deeply concave rear thorax segment (the propodeum), which creates an exaggerated, upward-pointing crest when viewed from the side, closely resembling a shark's dorsal fin rising up from its body. The 'Dolly' part is the Australianised nickname for "Dolichoderus". So there you go!

These little ants are around 4-5mm long, and have a symbiotic relationship with caterpillars, aphids, scale insects and treehoppers that secrete sugary fluids. They can't resist the sweet treat, and being surrounded by ants gives protection to the other insects. Dolly ants are described as highly efficient "team players" as they work together when foraging for food. They do tend to be timid and rarely bite humans, however, they can be somewhat aggressive when protecting their syrup-secreting mates from predators. They will also release a highly pungent fluid to deter lizards and birds from predating their colony. This one seen in Ewingar NSW on 24th August, 2025.

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📷 Olympus OM-D EM5 Mark III
🔎 Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro Lens + Raynox DCR250
⚡️Godox V350O
☂️ Cygnustech Diffuser
🎞 Handheld Single Shot
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27/07/2026

A Badge Huntsman Spider (Genus Neosparassus), hanging out on an old envelope on my desk. This species has more b***y than other huntsmen, and not as flat. Juvenilles can be a gorgeous green colour, which can apparently remain into adulthood, which I'd love to see! These long-legged hunters get their common name from the "badge" or shield on the underside of their abdomen, which is sometimes brightly coloured. They also have colour bands or spots on the underside of their front legs. You can find these fellas all over Australia, including behind the sun visor of your car, and guarding your mail 🤣. This one seen doing the later at my place in Northern NSW on 24th June, 2025.

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📷 Olympus OM-D EM5 Mark III
🔎 Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro Lens + Raynox DCR250
⚡️Godox V350O
☂️ Cygnustech Diffuser
🎞 Handheld Single Shot
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27/07/2026

27/07/2026

One of my absolute favourite Australian snakes: the Common Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis punctulatus) 😍. I had forgotten I'd had this encounter on 25th July 2026 at my place in Ewingar NSW, so super happy to come across these pics. It was seen around the same place as the previous one I shared from March, so could be the same little one. These are a non-venomous snake, and are slender, agile and diurnal, being more active during the day - this one seen around mid-morning. Their colouring is typically dark brown, olive and even blackish, and they tend to have pale to bright yellow under the head and on the belly, although apparently it can also be blue. Blue flecks are usually present on their flanks, and I've noticed more so on older and larger snakes. You can actually see the blue flecks in the second photo of this one. I've seen the blue really become apparent when these pretties are feeling threatened, as they tend to puff up their neck and body, revealing more of this blue. Adults can grow over a metre long, and their diet consists of softer critters: frogs, water skinks, and small reptiles and their eggs. They do not constrict their prey, and instead rely on their sharp teeth to chew their prey and work it down their throat. It is my understanding from other snake handlers that these gorgeous ones tend not to bite, but instead may head butt or nose butt you when trying to be threatening - I find that totally adorable! Always a happy day when these beauties come across my path 🥰.

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📷 Olympus OM-D EM5 Mark III
🔎 Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro Lens
⚡️Godox V350O
☂️ Cygnustech Diffuser
🎞 Handheld Single Shots
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25/07/2026

mantis macronerd

23/07/2026

*trigger warning* for those who need it (large, hairy spider alert).

This is a picture I took back on 1st January, 2025 showing the prized meal of a large Grey Huntsman Spider (Holconia immanis), and an unfortunate Washerwoman Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus porosus). I think this was the only Christmas Beetle I saw that season, and unfortunately it was being devoured by one of Australia's largest spiders, growing up to a body length of 45 mm and a leg span of 160 mm. Washerwoman Christmas Beetles grow up to 30mm in length. Female Christmas Beetles lay eggs in soil or compost in spring and early summer, and their fat white larvae live in the soil feeding on decaying organic matter and roots for 1-2 years. Larvae then pupate in the soil and adult beetles emerge during the early to mid summer period and feed on the leaves of Eucalyptus trees. There is growing concern that our beautiful Christmas Beetle numbers are depleting as people are reporting seeing them less and less, and there is a theory that the 2019-20 bushfires have played a part in the reduced observations. Citizen Science projects through apps like iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/christmas-beetle-count) have arisen to help track and gather data around Christmas Beetles to work out if they are indeed on the decline and determine what could be the culprit. Several years' data will be required to gather sufficient evidence to enable a conclusion around this concern. You can listen to our Citizen Science Show podcast around this topic with Associate Professor Tanya Latty here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4CT241GgKz8UsBaxwGShyf

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📷 Olympus OM-D EM5 Mark III
🔎 Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro Lens
⚡️Godox V350O
🎞 Handheld Single Shots
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21/07/2026

Flash back to my lovely encounter with this awesome Goliath Stick Insect (Clemacantha goliath)! This fellow was the biggest insect I have seen so far, and he somehow made his way into my kitchen. Boy, did I jump when I glimpsed him clinging to the wall frame! Goliaths usually grow past 20cm long, and are Australia's second largest stick insect next to the Titan. I have also seen a Titan but I'm sure this one was bigger and so colourful! Just amazing! 😍. Apparently only the males can fly and don't grow as large as the females. That is surprising as this was a male and was, I thought, at least 20cm long. Eucalyptus and acacia is part of their diet. AND...apparently females don't need a male to make babies, through a natural form of as*xual reproduction called parthenogenesis, enabling embryos to develop from unfertilised egg. AKA Immaculate conception! Because there is no male involved to provide genetic diversity, these offspring will be clones and 100% female. Only when males are involved will the offspring be diverse in genetics and s*x. This pretty fellow made me jump out of my skin on 15th February, 2025 in Ewingar, NSW Australia.

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📷 Olympus OM-D EM5 Mark III
🔎 Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro Lens + Raynox DCR250
⚡️Godox V350O
☂️ Cygnustech Diffuser
🎞 Handheld Single Shot
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