Excursion to  Southlea,  December 2006
 Southlea is a dry bushland property on the western slopes of Mt Nelson, between Hobart and Kingston in southern Tasmania.
 

Our first field observation of the day: a ceramic Gallus gallus domesticus at the roadside into Southlea!

  Metriorrhynchus sp. (Lycidae) or one of its several
mimics.

A desiccated frog found under a log.

An ant nest under a rock. 

The ants and the soft growths on the plant roots seemed to be associated in some way. The green and white mass is a fungus.

A jumping spider, about 10mm leg span.

Pupa case or spider nest?
About 3mm diameter, formed from a rolled-up a leaf. 

A click beetle Conoderus sp. (Elateridae) caught in a net.

With its elytra (wing-cases) open, the beetle is deploying its wings, about to take-off.

A huntsman spider, Delena cancerides, fatter and hairier than usual. Body about 35mm long, 12mm wide.
It is infested by minute orange-coloured mites. 

Heading back from the excursion towards our end-of-year barbeque.
Our host John Walch leads the way.

Photos by  Geoff Fenton