A male Australian jewel beetle thinks he has found the perfect mate. When the Western Australian beer industry unintentionally produced bottles that mimicked the shiny brown sheen of the female jewel beetle, the males found themselves in what researchers refer to as an `evolutionary trap’.
The Australian crab spider (Thomisus spectabilis), does not build webs, but instead lies in wait for its lunch from the safety of a flower. It advertises its presence by reflecting ultraviolet (UV) light.
For the introduced European honeybee, this UV light acts as an irresistible lure that attracts the bees towards the spiders.
Australian tongue orchids (Cryptostylis), for example, have evolved to mimic the scents and appearance of female wasps (Lissopimpla excelsa), in order to trick male wasps into spreading their pollen.
Home Topics Wildlife Gallery: Bugs mating with beer bottles
For the first time in more than 40 years, the distinctive booming call of the endangered Australasian bittern once again rings out across the waters of Tasmania’s Lagoon of Islands.
Eight captive-bred eastern bristlebirds (Dasyornis brachypterus) were recently released into the Border Ranges region of north-eastern New South Wales where they're considered a critically endangered species.
A New South Wales-first oxygenation trial aims to address dissolved oxygen levels in the Darling River that have contributed to large-scale fish deaths in recent years.
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From cuddly companions to realistic native Australian wildlife, the range also includes puppets that move and feel like real animals.