Little Critters Toolkit Yarra Riverkeeper Association

3 Acknowledgment of Country

The Yarra Riverkeeper Association acknowledges that the Yarra Catchment is the traditional land and waters of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respect to Elders who have cared for country since time began, to the Elders who are healing country today, and to the emerging Elders, who continue the journey of enriching culture. We acknowledge that the river now called the Yarra is traditionally known as the Birrarung and that name has never ceased to be the name of the river.

2 Photo | Anthony Despotellis Bugs are all around us. They contribute significantly to the health of ecosystems but are often discounted and forgotten about in the discussion and focus of our interest in the natural world around us. But, when you consider the ratio of bugs to humans being well over a billion to one, it’s pretty easy to understand that, while small in stature, these organisms have a huge impact on the world around us.

This toolkit will help open the door to the world of critters running the show from behind the scenes. A better understanding of conservation and ecological health hinges on understanding life at all levels, doing the jobs we don’t even recognise yet.

Introduction

Photo | Andrew Allen Little Critters toolkit | YRKA 5 , Bugs and Ecosystems

Energy

Bugs play a huge role in ecosystem balance Bugs are significant primary consumers in and maintenance. They fill a number of ecosystems, feeding on plant matter - the key roles in ecosystems, including energy producers - that have converted the Sun’s Tertiary .1% and nutrient cycling, pollination and pest energy into digestible energy through Consumers control. On top of all of this, many bugs photosynthesis. Bugs make up a large hold significance in different cultures proportion of the primary consumers (the around the world as food sources. second trophic level) and so are hugely important to the health of food webs Secondary 1% While we may not be able to observe as and the health of organisms that occupy Consumers many of the processes that bugs drive as higher trophic levels. At each trophic level easily as some of the larger scale interactions roughly 10% of the energy at the prior driven by vertebrate wildlife, the complex level will be carried on. Therefore, if the 10% web of ecological interactions that they health of lower trophic levels diminishes Primary control and contribute to are integral to the and populations of primary consumers Consumers function of ecosystems. , which reduce, each subsequent trophic level has account for many of the bugs in this toolkit less consumable energy available. are the most diverse phylum of on In addition to the primary consumers, the planet, add to this that gastropods - also Producers represented in this toolkit - are another one bugs are predatory and act as regulators of the most diverse groups of organisms and over their herbivorous peers. This you can begin to understand why and how regulative measure helps to stop over 100% they are so entrenched in the function of consumption of producers (photosynthetic the world around us. plants) by herbivorous bugs. This then has the flow on effect of allowing enough plants to engage in photosynthesis to create sufficient energy to support the food web at its base.

6 Wildlife toolkit | YRKA 7 Biomass

Nutrients Pollination No insects (Detritivores) Nutrient cycling is also an extremely Pollination is often talked about in terms important process that relies upon the of honey bees and the importance it existence and actions of our little friends. holds for agricultural systems. However, The sheer mass of bugs on the planet is pollination goes far beyond the farm testament to how many interactions that gate and is engaged in by many more they are having in the world around us. species than just our European visitors. Leaf Without the continual ingestion and Not only do ecosystems depend on breaking down of decaying matter that pollination by bugs but many species litter Soil bugs engage in, the nutrient cycling of plants have in fact coevolved with capacity of ecosystems would be greatly different species of particular bugs, reduced. Nutrient cycling by bugs occurs creating codependent relationships both through detritivorous consumption between species. It is for this reason of dead and decaying matter as well as that pollination and diversity in the bug through regular consumption of biomass world are so intricately linked. No one Biomass in an environment. species can pollinate everything and without sufficient biodiversity in buglife the biodiversity in plant life suffers.

With insects (Detritivores)

Leaf litter Soil

8 Wildlife toolkit | YRKA 9 Pest Control Culture

Bugs also provide great benefits to Outside of their role in protecting and ecological balance (and to the economy) enhancing the health of the environment through pest control. When there is a and ecosystems, many bugs hold balance between the various types of positions of significance in cultures all bugs, the ecosystem receives the services around the world. Insects and other that it needs without being over taxed by bugs have been used for many years herbivorous bugs. by Aboriginal Australians as a food source but also as medicines, bait and Often species are able to become pest adornments. They have also been linked species because they are not regulated to proliferation of common language properly within the ecosystem which between first nations peoples. they are occupying. This is no different in the world of bugs. Natural ecosystems In addition to their practical uses, many regulate themselves through ecological bugs are also intertwined with cultural balances restricting and bolstering beliefs of first nation peoples around the relative abundance of different Australia and feature in many stories of species. For this reason, biodiversity the Aboriginal Dreaming. plays an important role in buglife. Without sufficient predator species in an ecosystem controlling the abundance of herbivorous bugs, the amount of plant life consumed by these organisms can become excessive to the point of degradation of the base energy source in a given ecosystem food web.

10 Wildlife toolkit | YRKA 11 Insects

Common Name Scientific Name

Bogong Moth Agrotis infusa Huntsman Spider Sparassidae family p14 Cabbage White Butterfly Pieris rapae Plague Soldier lugubris

European Wasp Vespula germanica Aurora Bluetail Ischnura aurora p16 C Shinning Cockroach Drymaplaneta communis Leopard Slug Limax maximus

Bull Ant Myrmecia genus Southern Riffle Darner Notoaeshna sagittata p18 Transverse Ladybird Coccinella transversalis Common Garden Snail Cornu aspersum

Blow Fly Lucilia cuprina Lesser Water Strider Veliidae microvelia

p20 European Honey Bee Apis mellifera Diving Beetle Dytiscidae family Gallery of Wildlife

Photo | Anthony Despotellis Little Critters toolkit | YRKA 13 Appearance Biography Appearance Biography Bogong moths are generally The Bogong moth holds indigenous Cabbage White Butterflies Believed to have originated in either dark in colour, usually cultural significance as a historical have white to pale grey Europe or Asia, the Cabbage White having a dark stripe on food source during the summer. wings with black tips and Butterfly has become very widely either wing leading to a light The Bogong migrates long distances two dark eye-spots on the spread across the globe. After it was spot. They generally have a during spring toward the Australian forewing and another single accidentally introduced to Australia, wingspan between 40-50mm Alps where they remain dormant in spot at the back wing, have it was found that the caterpillar and a body length between torpor over the summer and then small bodies and can have stage of this species had become a 25-35mm return to the lowlands during the wingspans of up to 50mm. pest to agricultural production. cooler months to mate. Bogong moths are an important food source to the critically endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum (Burramys parvus); however, due to their Photo recently recorded potential for Photo Donald Hobern arsenic accumulation there are Dirk Daniel Mann concerns about their interaction with Bogong Moth agricultural land. Cabbage White Butterfly Agrotis infusa Pieris rapae Butterflies taste with their feet! Native Introduced

Appearance Biography Appearance Biography

Huntsman spiders are Huntsman spiders are well known A small beetle whose head These little are quite common often brown and grey in for their size and often being found and outer wings are dark throughout the yarra catchment and colour and have eight eyes inside the home. They get their green-black with a yellow- are often also found in backyards. orientated in two rows of name in homage to their speed orange underside as well They are not harmful to ecosystems four when tracking down prey. They are as a stipe of orange behind and in fact often act as biological generally not aggressive towards their head. They generally controls for a number of species humans although in some cases growing up to between such as aphids, grasshoppers and can inflict harm. Female huntsman 1.5-2cm. caterpillars that can be harmful to spiders can be particularly aggressive plants when they are able to feed when defending their eggs. without regulation.

Photo Photo Survival.org Hopenfox

Huntsman Spider Plague Sparassidae family Chauliognathus lugubris

Native Native

14 Wildlife toolkit | YRKA 15 Appearance Biography Appearance Biography

The male Aurora Bluetail The aurora bluetail is a species of The common shining The common shining cockroach and female look different, damselfly native to Australia. They are cockroach generally grow to may cause most of us to recoil in particularly in colour. The male predatory, carnivorous insects that several centimeters in length disgust; however, they are a native has a bright orange abdomen are particularly adept at preying on and have a shiny brown- to Australia, particularly within with a black tip highlighted other flying insects due to the flying black body with pale stripes the south-east. They commonly live by the characteristic blue capabilities of damselflies in general. running down either side of in the bush and can commonly be markings, the thorax of the They are most commonly found in their back. found under the bark of eucalyptus male is dark with bright green areas close to fresh water as the trees and the surrounding leaf litter. stripes. The female has a early nymph stage of their lifecycle is Dry periods during the millennium broad black stripe that runs aquatic. drought brought a population boom, the length of the abdomen driving these and many other types and a shiny-black thorax with of cockroaches towards people’s two orange stripes. Photo Photo homes. Common shining cockroaches Dragonflypix Bugwood.org do not carry many diseases and are not considered a pest in Australian ecosystems. Aurora Bluetail Common Shining Cockroach Ischnura aurora Drymaplaneta communis All insects have three body segments; the Native head, thorax and Native abdomen.

Appearance Biography Appearance Biography The European wasp has European wasps tend to have an Leopard slugs have pale Originally coming from Europe, the a predominantly yellow aggressive nature accompanied by a bodies, usually brown- Leopard slug has been accidentally abdomen with black painful stinger that may cause allergic grey, with dark spots and introduced to a number of regions markings along the dorsal reactions. They are a relatively recent stripes that run the entire around the world. They are the largest side and a black thorax. pest to have arrived in Australia, length of their bodies. terrestrial slug in all of Australia Their legs are yellow and first being recorded in Tasmania They are a relatively large and while they are predominantly their antennae are black. in the mid 20th century and on the species of slug growing up herbivores, they also engage in a They are roughly mainland later in the 20th century. to 20cm is length detrivorous diet, eating the remains 2cm in length. European wasps have a tangible of other dead animals and slugs. negative impact in a number of areas While they are an introduced including horticulture, apiculture species, leopard slugs are not widely and outdoor tourism as well as considered a pest in Australia. creating issues for health Photo and biodiversity. They do, however, Robert Bennett provide a benefit in the form of pest control in some agricultural systems. European Wasp Leopard Slug Vespula germanica Limax maximus

Introduced Introduced

16 Wildlife toolkit | YRKA 17 Appearance Biography Appearance Biography

Bull ants are different Bull ants can tend to inspire some The transverse ladybird The transverse ladybird is an between casts. Workers vary negative opinions among people is a small beetle ranging important species for maintaining in range across the genus due to their highly aggressive from 3.8mm-6.7mm in the health of plants as they are a growing to between 8-40mm nature and their painful stings. length. They are generally predator species to many smaller in size, however all tend to However, as with many of the bright orange to red with insects which feed upon plant have characteristically large creatures in this toolkit, bull ants a black head, dorsal stripe matter. They are particularly mandibles. Queen bull ants provide many ecosystem services and lobed markings on important to agricultural systems are usually slightly larger contributing significantly to plant either side. where they prey on a number of than workers and have seed dispersion, the dynamics of highly significant crop pests including considerably more ovarioles local food systems and some bull many species of aphids. to accommodate their much ant species are even known to higher egg laying rates, and engage in pollination of flowering Photo almost always have wings. plant species. Bull ants also play JJ Harrison a large role in nutrient cycling in ecosystems. Bull Ant Transverse Ladybird Myrmecia genus Coccinella transversalis A ladybird might eat more than 5,000 Native Native insects in its lifetime!

Appearance Biography Appearance Biography

The southern riffle darner Southern riffle darner dragonflies The common garnered snail The common garden snail is one of dragonfly is a relatively are often found around fast flowing has grey skin and a hard the most wide spread pests in all of large species of Australian streams and rivers. during the nymph whorl shaped shell on their Australia. The reason that these snails dragonfly, and grow to be stage of their lifecycle, they use spurts back that are patterned and have been so successful in Australia larger than 50mm in length. of water to rapidly move themselves. often brown and light brown is due to our relatively mild winters They are often black or dark in colouring. They have long allowing them to breed all year round, brown with characteristic upper tentacles which hold coupled with the lack of a major yellow markings running up their eyes and shorter lower predator in Australian ecosystems. the abdomen and the thorax. tentacles which are a vessel for the olfactory senses of the snail.

Photo Photo Reiner Richter Nadine Doerlé

Southern Riffle Darner Dragonfly Common Garden Snail Notoaeshna sagittata Cornu aspersum

Native Introduced

18 Wildlife toolkit | YRKA 19 Appearance Biography Appearance Biography The blow fly has a metallic Also known as the “Australian Sheep European honey bees are European Honey bees have become appearance with large red Fly”, these flies are a significant up to 2cm long with black prevalent all across Australia eyes and can be up to 1cm problem in agriculture causing sheep and yellow-orange banded since they were first successfully in length strike and other health issues for stripes. introduced in the 1820’s. They were animals in production systems as brought to Australia to produce well as those outside of production honey and to contribute to local systems. They prefer the warmer ecosystems by providing pollinating weather and so are generally only services. There are growing seen during the summer months. concerns that European honey bees' dominance in Australia is leading to reduced prevalence of Australian native bees. European honey bees do still play an important role in Photo Photo Graham Wise DPIRD pollination around Australia and are considered highly important – if not integral – to agricultural systems Blow Fly European Honey Bee across Australia. The majority Lucilia cuprina Apis mellifera of all recorded extinctions have occurred on islands Native with invasive species as Introduced the primary causes

Appearance Biography Appearance Biography Lesser water striders are These little critters live on the Generally grow up to Diving beetles usually live close to the quite small growing to be edges of the banks of slow flowing 1cm in length, tend to banks of rivers on top of the water. around 2mm long and with waterways. They are able to move have long legs and often They are able to trap air pockets a relatively flat body. across the surface of the water due to have two tails coming off under their wings in order to allow a covering of very fine, hydrophobic the end of the abdomen them to spend more time under hairs that cover their feet. Lesser section of their body. water when hunting for prey. water striders are predatory and tend to feed predominantly on aquatic snails that they track down by sensing the movements in the water.

Photo Gilles San Martin

Lesser Water Strider Diving Beetles Veliidae microvelia Dytiscidae family

Native Native

20 Wildlife toolkit | YRKA 21 How can we help? Documenting Insects

As the number of bugs continues to fall Now that we know what we’re looking Yarra Catchment Atlas year in and year out, we must look to for, it can also be helpful to record our own behaviours to try to save these sightings and collect data. YRKA runs www.yarraatlas.org.au little critters that contribute so much an online resource for this called the to ecosystems, ecology and even our Yarra Catchment Atlas where people Inaturalist economy. Some good ways to help out can submit photos of bugs (and other insects on an individual level is to: animals and occurrences) that they find www.inaturalist.org along the Yarra River. Another great resource for data collection is iNaturalist. This is a great (free) app for download Plant native plant in your garden, Avoid using pesticides and artificial that helps with identification and so many of Australia’s insects have fertilizers in your garden where possible, recording of sighted bugs. developed along side and in partnership these products kill and interrupt the with Australian plants and so it’s very ecological interaction of bugs within important to maintain these sources of natural environments even when other food, habitat and natural interaction for benefits such as native plants are being them; used; and,

Avoid using tools like bug zappers and As always, when possible trying to be a bug tapes that indiscriminately kill responsible consumer and selecting for bugs and so diminish the numbers of products such as organically produced beneficial species as well; foods and fibres and supporting businesses and organisations that aim to use good practices, holds potential to shift the balance of our impact on our little friends.

22 Little Critters toolkit | YRKA 23 Appendix Common Terms

Biodiversity: the variety of animal and plant life in a given area or habitat of interest (maintaining high levels of biodiversity are important to maintaining resilience)

Biomass: the total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area or volume.

Circadian Rhythm: the physical, mental and behavioural changes that follow a daily cycle, usually in response to light and darkness

Conservation status: is a tiered, indication tool for the current population health for a species

Diurnal: refers to something that is done or active during daylight. With regard to circadian rhythms, nocturnal refers to an organism that is predominantly active during the day

Ecosystem: a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

Ecosystem Services: the many and variable benefits provided to humans by the enviornment Resilience: the capacity of an ecosystem to absorb disturbances

Habitat: the natural home or environment of an animal, plant or any other organism

Introduced: an organism that is not native to the place or area where it is considered introduced an has been accidentally or deliberately transported to the new location by human activity.

Native: a species that normally lives and thrives in a particular ecosystem

Nocturnal: refers to something that is done or active at night. With regard to circadian rhythms, nocturnal refers to an organism that is predominantly active during the night

Wildlife: a general term for all wild animals that have not been domesticated or tamed and are usually living in a natural environment

Photo 24 Tom Frawley Special thanks to:

KEVIN ANDREWS MP

Photo Neil Howard

26 Little Critters toolkit | YRKA 27