I usually try to keep to the feathered and furred during these monthly columns. There’s a fabulous entomologist on-board already here at 2515 and I like to stay most definitely in my lane. Now I wouldn’t go breaking my own rules for just anything, but I’m pretty sure you’ll agree that in this case it’s only right that I make an exception.
You see, I’ve been looking for the absolutely stunning Botany Bay Weevil for years, since I first saw a photo of them really. These gorgeous beetles are pretty much impossible to mistake for any other species, with their distinctive black colouring featuring either metallic blue or green scales and are ridiculously common. But, as all nature lovers know, once you put an animal on your ‘must see’ list, the universe tends to show its wicked sense of humour and that common animal suddenly seemingly vanishes from the face of the earth.
The adults love to feed on acacia plants, the adults munching away on the leaves with the larvae feeding on the roots. Trust me when I say that I have looked at every single acacia between here and Victoria (they’re actually found along the eastern seaboard, down to the southern regions of South Australia) with absolutely no luck. It’s been quietly driving me up the wall. With their colouring in particular, you’d think they’d be a breeze to find and they were actually one of the first insects collected by Joseph Banks during Captain Cook’s voyage in 1770.
Well, I’m happy to report that I finally found not one but two of these gorgeous insects when walking the Coast Track in the Royal National Park. I kind of wish I could romanticise the moment – you know, one of those ‘right place, right time’ serendipitous situations when I just happened to turn around and there they were.
But alas, I had headed to Wattamolla with these guys specifically in mind and had my face in pretty much every acacia along the boardwalk. It wasn’t until we turned around and started the trek back that I REALLY began to search (and whine and beg the universe for a little compassion and help).
And, just like that, I found both colour phases of these insects: one with the more blue scales, and one with the more green, or aqua, colouring. I’m not saying that I cried with sheer relief, but I will say that the husband kept having to try and calm me down. Look, I’m an excitable gal at the best of times!
But it really was lovely, watching these two walking up and down the branches of the young acacia feeding away, almost glistening in the sun. And that’s the beauty of nature, isn’t it? This drive to want to see more, to move amongst it, to protect it and to find those treasures that elude you for many, many years.