Tiger Huntsmans have been mating on display in Bugs Alive- we expect we will have another egg sac before too long. This species is ‘undescribed’, which means it’s essentially unknown to science. Our captive population is providing all sorts of new knowledge about the species including its full life cycle.

Tiger Huntsmans mating Photo: Jessie Sinclair Source: Museum Victoria

Bug collecting is something that needs to be timed to coincide with particularly advantageous conditions in the field. During summer we field collect on hot evenings in arid areas, and in North Queensland the first period of the wet season is a good time. Last week there was significant rain in Alice Springs so two staff took off to collect invertebrates which come out to breed in those rare wet periods of weather. Some of these animals will boost breeding stock here and go on display in Bugs Alive, such as the remarkable Pie Dish Beetle.

Pie Dish Beetle Helea scaphiformis Photo: Alan Henderson Source: Museum Victoria

Melbourne Zoo and Melbourne Museum have jointly organised an importation of exotic Tarantulas in association with Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service. Six new adult spiders of three species will soon be joining the display collection in Bugs Alive.

Forest Gallery

The female Satin Bower Bird can be seen collecting food from the feeders and feeding the now large chick hiding amongst the undergrowth. The mature male nicknamed Jack has moved his bower to an adjoining garden area where his handiwork is signposted for visitors. He has been hassling the female and other birds in the gallery recently so he has been caught up for a tip trim on his last three flight feathers in order to slow him down a bit. This gives the other birds some welcome respite from his unremitting attentions.  Jack is occasionally diverted when the snake basks in the sun, jumping and calling on the glass lid of the snake enclosure as if to scare it away.  Protective instincts are clearly at work here.

Alpine Copperhead basks in the sun next to its recently shed skin Photo: Alan Henderson Source: Museum Victoria

The snake enclosure is now home to an Alpine Copperhead Snake Austrelaps ramsayi which is displaying well during the day. These snakes are true denizens of the mountain forests and rarely seen. Melbourne Museum is the only place in the world where this species is displayed.

Milarri Garden

Everlasting daisies of several species are blooming in Milarri Garden, particularly in the garden bed near the pond. The hard papery outer petals of the flowers endure even after the flower head has died, hence the name. When in flower they attract moths and butterflies which collect the pollen and nectar and fertilise the plants.

A tiny butterfly probes the daisy head flowers for nectar in Milarri Garden Photo: Luke Simpkin Source: Museum Victoria

Likewise in Forest Gallery, Sweet Bursaria Bursaria spinosa is flowering and attracting the attentions of pollinators. Red-browed finches have set up a virtual hotel of nests in the Bursaria, which are easily seen from the ground near the north-west corner of the gallery.

Sweet Bursaria Photo: Serene O'Halloran Source: Museum Victoria

Dragonflies are taking to the air around the pond at the moment. Observant visitors will see the dragonflies’ nymph skins left clinging to the water plants close to water level as the dragonfly nymphs emerged from the water and shed their skins to emerge as winged adults. The nymphs, also known as ‘mudeyes’ are voracious carnivores underwater, and inspired the alien monster in the Alien movie series. As adults dragonflies similarly prey on other insects.