Water Scorpion Laccotrephes tristis Family Nepidae
Published October 31, 2012 | Water Scorpion grow to over 50mm long they can extend the tube on their backs out of the water to breathe air like a snorkel while swimming. They can ambush fast swimming prey such as small fish catching them between their front legs and stabbing them with their pointed probiscus. Known as Toe-biters able to inflict a nasty nip although this specimen played dead when disturbed. Water Scorpions are also capable fliers and inhabit waterholes over much of Australia.
Predaceous Diving Beetle (Family Dytigcidae)
Published October 27, 2012 | ” A beetle not a bug. It is certainly one of the diving beetles in the family Dytigcidae, but there are a few black and yellow genera and species. This beetle could be in the genera Megaporus or Sternopriscus.” Found in the dam feeding on small aquatic organisms.
I.D courtesy of Martyn Robinson. Naturalist Australian Museum. 
Nymph of Eurybranchid leaf-hopper (Eurybranchidae)
Published March 26, 2012 | These small bugs reside on Eucalyptus and Acacia species and are sap suckers.
I.D. courtesy of Kellie Harris. Interpretive Officer, Australian Museum.
Eight-spotted Leaf Beetle (Paropsisterna sexpustulata) Family – Chrysomelidae
Published September 28, 2011 | 
Found on a Forest Red Gum, this Eight-spotted Leaf Beetle. They have a body length of 12mm.
Wild Tobacco Spined Bug (Cuspicona forticornis)
Published April 7, 2011 | 
Often found feeding on the introduced Wild Tobacco Plant (Solanum mauritianum) sparsely found across the wildlife refuge.
Unidentified Species of Cicada
Published January 27, 2011 | 
This cicada image is currently an unidentified species? These cicadas are some of the largest and loudest in Australia and are found in tall Open Eucalypt forests. The nymphs live underground for several years and suck on the roots of trees for survival. They emerge enmasse, and demonstrate “predator satiation” with so many out at once the species is sure of survival from predators.
True Cricket (Family; Gryllidae)
Published January 18, 2011 | 
These True Crickets are identified by their long antennae. They are ground dwelling and usually active at night when males construct complex love songs. Crickets have their ears on their front legs and are omnivorous scavengers, feeding on decaying plant matter, fungi and emergent plants. These important beneficial insects are in turn prey for lizards and birds and are considered a delicacy in some countries and a good luck charm in others.
Christmas Beetle (Scarabaeidae: subfamily, Rutelinae)
Published December 1, 2010 | 
These beetles appear in vast numbers around Christmas in Australia. After pupating in the soil they commence feeding on eucalyptus trees, often causing extensive damage in urban environments.
Pink Flatid Planthopper (Colgar species) Flatidae
Published November 6, 2010 | 
Both nymph and adult bugs are sap suckers. They are creamy white with pink wing edges , this one had a bluish tinge and around 15mm long. These planthoppers usually walk very slowly to avoid detection, they are also strong jumpers which is used as a defensive mechanism. ”Planthoppers are often vectors for plant diseases, especially phytopasmas which live in the phloem of plants and can be transmitted by planthoppers when feeding” A new species for the wildlife refuge.
Reference courtesy of Wikipedia.
Tettigonid Grasshopper (Anthophiloptera dryas)
Published September 24, 2010 | 
Image from the riparian zone of an unusual nectar and pollen feeding specialist and a member of the Katydid family. Known as the Balsam Beast this species is endemic to Australia and all species are nocturnal. They inhabit coastal rainforest from Batemans Bay in the south to Far North Queensland.
I.D. courtesy of Martyn Robinson, Naturalist. Australian Museum.
Further reading: http://bunyipco.blogspot.com/2008/o5/pollen-and-nectar-feeding-katydids.html.