Bugs Alive

A new colony of Jumping Jack Ants is installed in Bugs Alive. Visitors will know these smaller relatives of the Bull Ant for their fearsome sting and feisty nature. This display is a unique safe opportunity to see what they get up to underground- in particular their careful parenting of larvae and pupae.

Jumping Jack Photo: Alan Henderson Source: Museum Victoria

The Meat Ants ‘heads up’ display is different from the Bull Ants and jumping Jacks in that there is no queen- so they don’t breed on display and numbers need to be regularly topped up as older ants die off. This display has just been replenished with ants collected by ‘super pooter’ (a modified vacuum cleaner)) from a huge nest near Ballarat. Meat Ants distinguish individuals from their colony from those of other colonies chemically, and will instantly attack them. Keeper staff have discovered that by washing the ants, the old ants accept the new ants without aggression. It seems the chemical message is lost in the washing.

Meat Ant display- Bugs Alive! Photo: Luke Simpkin Source Museum Victoria

Forest Gallery

On the boardwalk next to the large log display you will see Grass Trigger Plants (Stylidium) coming into flower. The tall flower stems have tiny pink flowers which have evolved a specialised ‘hammer’ structure for the purpose of pollination. This is tensioned in some way and released when a pollinating insect alights on the bloom. The hammer springs forward thumping the stamen on the back of the unsuspecting bug, which them flies off to spread pollen to other blooms. Edible nectar and pollen are the ‘bribes’ the plant provides to ensure the insects come and do their bit.

Trigger Plant in bloom- note ''trigger' on lower right flower Photo: Luke Simpkin Source: Museum Victoria

Blue Wren chicks have recently fledged and may heard more than seen amongst the False Bracken Fern at the north end of the gallery. The Tawny Frogmouths have not bred but there has been nesting activity from a female Satin Bower Bird in the Hard Tree Ferns above the boardwalk. The Yellow Robin is calling but will have to wait until next season for us to source him a mate. He has otherwise settled well into the gallery.

Young wrens- note male on left moulting and reddish plumage around eyes of juvenile on right Photo: Luke Simpkin Source: Museum Victoria

The Eastern Long-necked Turtle has also been wandering about in the southern end of the gallery. There is only one- a male- in there currently. We are growing up a number of Murray Turtles back of house for release into Milarri maybe late next year if they are sufficiently grown. We hope this will be a further attraction in addition to the eels and Silver Perch.

Honeybees

Following the initial swarming, the remaining colony and its new queen have settled quickly into pollen packing and larvae production. The feeder has been using about 30 grams per day supplementary feed but the bees will be bringing in more of their own given the amount of flowering in the gardens currently.

Feeder on top of display hive Photo: Luke Simpkin Source: Museum Victoria

Milarri Garden

The Grass Trees (Xanthorrhea) are looking especially luxuriant lately. These plants were indicators for pastoralists of poor quality soils, and are able to thrive where other plants cannot. They are fire adapted- being highly flammable and producing huge flower spikes following fire. In this part of the world, the resins were used by Indigenous people as a glue while the flower stems, split in half made perfect bases for fire ‘drill’ sticks made from the Austral Mulberry (which may be seen growing in Forest Gallery). See examples of these artefacts displayed in the platform showcase in the Forest Gallery.

Platform showcase in Forest Gallery Photo: Luke Simpkin Source: Museum Victoria