The Blue-banded Bee (Amegilla cingulata) is one of many awesome native insects found in Canberra and its surrounds. Photo: Erica Siegel.
Okay, so not everybody enjoys sharing their yard with tenants of a creepy-crawly nature.
They don’t communicate like dogs or cats do, and their beady eyes and many legs are a bit of an acquired taste.
But there are plenty of people who find their fuzzy bodies, waving antennae and vibrant colours charming, adorable even. At the very least, greenthumbs definitely appreciate their help in the garden.
If you find yourself buzzing when a new species visits your backyard, you’ll be delighted to hear Canberra’s native insects are not just beautiful, they’re incredibly diverse.
Just a few found in the area are the Cyclops jumping spider (Opisthoncus polyphemus), Orchard Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio aegeus), Plague soldier beetle (Chauliognathus lugubris) and Blue-banded bee (Amegilla cingulata).
Cyclops jumping spiders are daytime hunters known for their huge eyes, curious nature and tendency to jump on nearby camera lenses.
The Orchard Swallowtail is one of our biggest native butterflies. Their caterpillars use spines and a foul smell for defence. Males are highly territorial and will even “chase” magpies away from their plants.
Plague soldier beetles get their name from the huge congregations they form to mate, pollinating as they go.
Amie Lording is a local macro-photographer and self-proclaimed native bee fanatic. She captures many different insects in her garden and some arachnids too, but the Blue-banded bee has truly captured her heart.
“I can often hear their buzz before I see them and love watching the way they pollinate, which is different to honey bees as they vibrate their bodies,” she says.
“Visually, they’re stunning to look at, with big green eyes that seem like they’re looking directly at you. I have regular visitors that fly out from the flowers to suss me out.
“With a few regular females, I get to see their changes as they age, such as hair on their thorax balding to a black spot. Observing them in my garden not only extends mine but my children’s curiosity about the living world, so I always feel grateful to see them.”
Amie eventually started her own pollinator-friendly garden in a bid to attract more native bugs to her home.
What began within a single wheelbarrow soon spread. These days, her whole yard is a safe haven for little creatures that flutter, jump and wriggle through the dirt.
For anyone else trying to entice these beautiful creatures into their backyard, Amy says native plants and DIY bug shelters are king.
“Go for a variety of native flowers with different shapes, colours and blooming seasons. The more biodiverse your garden is, the better,” she says.
“Put a rock in the middle of water sources as an easy exit for anything that falls in. Bamboo stakes, hollow stumps and mud bricks make awesome nesting sites.
“Remember, every insect that arrives has a role to play. Ladybugs and hoverflies eat plant pests like aphids, native bees and wasps pollinate super efficiently, and larvae of all kinds improve our soils, so avoid insecticides altogether if you can.”
Keen to find out what lives in your city, suburb or favourite hiking spot? Canberra entomologist Ying Luo notes iNaturalist and NatureMapr as reliable resources for budding insect enthusiasts.
“They’re a great way to learn more about what lives in your environment and contribute to citizen science projects,” she says.
“I always say there’s an insect to match any colour, behaviour or purpose you can think of. Our native species have evolved here; they are designed to play a special role in all kinds of ecosystems.
“So whether you’re a seasoned insect lover or just want to find out what that beetle in your garden is, sites like these are really important resources.”
You can follow Amie’s photography work on Instagram.
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