My Patio Wildlife

Months ago when I did my spring clean outside on our balcony (I dont trim or clean any debris until spring) found two moth pupa under one of my large logs, brought them in and both turned out to be these wasps. Not what I was expecting I have to say, but lovely all the same.

He was on some apple we had gathered to feed to the Green-brindled Crescent.

Beetles are one of my favorite creatures, I love the colors and shapes and behaviour. This guy is sooo under rated in the Beetle world, I mean just look at that Teddy-bear Face!

A special family for me, this little jumper colonised my balcony/patio a few years ago, when my little eco system was in its prime really, and so I've been very pleased that they have managed to be in good numbers ever since. This is a female I believe, and she just had to see what I was doing photographing moths, and I suppose see if there were any I didn't want that she could have..lol Better luck next time Sylvia!

This is Vincent, (all the little males are Vincent and females Vienna, I can't actually tell each one apart!) I've cornered him near a log to try to get some nice photos, he is much smaller than Vienna, and curious too. Update: This is NOT Vincent, because he is not the spider I thought he was, thanks to Evan for the correct ID, this is Syrus the Sitticus pubescens, now maybe he will come when I call...

Two years ago I resecued some Garlic Mustard from the footpath near my home (council weedwacked it to death a few days later!!) and it had three Orange-tip butterfly caterpillars on it. I really enjoyed them and had hoped the following year I would get them to visit me up on the balcony, no luck and it didn't even bloom :( This year however it did bloom, and I was ever so inspired by my contact Adrian Jones to look closely for eggs. And don't you know I found some!! Of course this shot is nothing like his beautiful one but I had to give it a try! I had to take about a Bazillion shots with two cameras to get just this one I could see anything in...hahaha Can't wait for the caterpillars :D

I often bring seeds of plants home to grow, I've been waiting two years for this plant to bloom. Love these things :D!

They are not real cooperative at this age..lol Sorry for the poor quality but you get the idea, two different stages are here. More updates to the Vapourer moth caterpillars we had, they have since pupated and emerged will update with more photos soon.

Just a photo to show second instar, too bad they are far to young to pose for a nice portrait...lol

The ants and I seem to be having a bit of troubles, they seem to think the scale and aphid insects are theirs, they don't relaize that they are mine too...lol

There are loads of these on my Currant bush, I'm not sure what to do, the bush doesn't seem to be affected by them as of yet.

Scale insect on my currant bush.

Found some eggs a few weeks back and they hatched out finally, they have actually grown a lot and I will post new photos soon.

As of yet no ID. Very bumpy and potentially hairy...haha

I think I've got the ID right, its a new species for me and my paito. Confirmation welcome.

Haven't found ID for this one, it lives in one of my wooden boxes on the patio, big too 1.5-2cm body size.

Found this guy when I was spring cleaning.