Page 16 - Tropic Magazine Issue 17

TROPIC • UP FRONT

In Season

EXPLORE NATURE
Words Nicky Horstmann
With both searing heat and prolonged
wet weather deeply etched in our recent
memories, we approach April and May
with heightened expectations of ‘normal’
weather. The cycle of tropical life has
continued to amaze us - the plethora
of beautiful butterflies followed by
relentless caterpillar attack, the clackety
buzzing of cicadas ultimately silenced by
hungry predators, the grass that doesn’t
know how to stop growing and, finally,
the mould that simply overwhelms
anything in its path. Wow, what a
glorious summer!

Lalage leucomela Archimantis latistyla

Birds Insects
Spicy triller Graceful predators
Another type of critter making buzzing One such cicada predator recently
noises in and around our area is the found in our yard was the stick mantid, Elaeocarpus angustifolius
beautiful, yet shy, varied triller (Lalage Archimantis latistyla. This 100mm insect
leucomela). These birds are quiet, looked exactly like the stems of the shrub Trees
almost stealthy visitors in the garden it was hiding in - grey and stick-like. Tall timber
or bushland. Their trilling song is not We only spotted it while looking for a The majestic height of some of our
announcing their presence, rather you very noisy cicada. In fact, the cicada in rainforest trees presents the perennial
only become aware of them if you spot question was unable to escape the spiky problem of identifying them. It’s very
them moving in the foliage. With your and coercive front legs of its captor, difficult to see their flowers far up above.
first glance of a male triller, you might so the cicada was providing both dinner Instead, try looking down first where
mistakenly assume it’s a peewee with and dinner music for our mantid. Makes some trees provide easy-to-recognise
its black and white striping on the one wonder if our praying mantis said litter even the most citified among us
wings. Then you realise the shape and grace before his meal? find hard to ignore. The blue quandong
colouring is wrong. I mean who’s ever Another type of mantid that made a (Elaeocarpus angustifolius) is one
seen a peewee with shades of orange visit to our home this wet was the less such specimen. Their shiny bright blue
under its tummy? Female trillers are a commonly seen leaf mantid (Neomantis globular fruit fall to the ground where
more pastel version of the males, with australis). What a graceful little creature! they are sought after by cassowaries.
the black back softening to a grey. They About a quarter of the size of its sticky This species grows relatively quickly,
might also feature some faint striping cousin, this insect’s wings are leaf-like in so the older leaves are continually shed
on their under-surface. Varied trillers shape with a lacy green appearance. after turning red. So, if you see red leaves
move cautiously through the foliage Its body matches, all except for its eyes and metallic blue fruit on the ground,
searching for insects and fruit. Our which are white. The appeal of this you have probably found yourself a blue
resident trillers are particularly fond of insect is further enhanced by its quandong. Look up and be impressed.
bird’s eye chilies and for us it’s a story begging front legs, however, don’t be Try your luck in the Botanic Gardens.
of ‘the early bird gets the ripe chilies’. fooled... they are still voracious and Enter by the McCormack St gate, turn left
They’re hard to beat. useful predators. and keep your eyes open.

16 • Tropic • Issue 17