This month 
...Joe Hubbard 
A single flower is not much to 
look at, tiny, starry and creamy 
yellow. But if it is presented as 
dense pyramidal panicles adorning 
a small tree, with a waft a 
fragrance added, you have the 
insignificant becoming eye¬ 
catching—certainly car-stopping! 
And what have you got? A Sweet 
Bursaria. 
Of course it's better if this small 
tree has the right setting, just as a 
painting needs to be framed. How 
about have it lining a winding 
narrow bush road descending to a 
creek crossing, where more can be 
found, covered with flowers, their 
scent hanging in the air, and busy 
with numerous butterflies. 
Sweet Bursaria 
And believe me, to be in such a place, at this time, you can 
indulge yourself in the singular pleasure of being at one 
with nature. 
We visited the Brisbane 
Ranges NP, 2/1/13, a 
morning tea only excursion, 
and stayed for the day. In 
spite of the dried out 
wetlands, creeks reduced 
to puddles, and hardy 
plants like Sticky 
Everlastings desiccated 
and dying, there was life! 
So given such harsh 
conditions you wouldn't 
expect to find anything 
flowering and then you 
come across a stunningly 
beautiful Hyacinth Orchid, 
its pale pink flowers a signpost to more growing in the 
nearby bush. And then you drive on to find the bursarias 
just above the Crossing Picnic Area. 
About bursarias and other things 
• Widespread distribution, variety of habitats 
• Flowering Spring-Summer 
• Attracts butterflies; Common, Shouldered Brown and 
Marbled Xenica observed 2/1/13 
• Food plant for Bright Copper Butterfly and food for 
bees—a scarcity this season 
Soldiering on! 
We read about Plague Soldier beetles—the reports of 
hundreds, perhaps thousands, seen on flowering trees, 
and how they were harmless to most living things. So 
when we found them at Lake Lome, Drysdale we were 
armed with some knowledge of their habits—but not 
enough as it turned out. 
Mind you, when 
we first arrived 
we thought they 
were swarming 
bees such were 
their numbers. 
But it was 
amazing how 
many there were 
in one tree. 
There were balls 
of them, a 
cupped hand sized writhing mass, and more, thickly 
coating flowers and branches. So naturally enough a photo 
was required—a really good close-up of a writhing mass. 
So I got underneath one of these balls, got over 
enthusiastic, knocked the branch, and before I could say 
'Plague on you', many of the beetles (it felt like a mass!) 
dropped on me covering hat, shoulders, face, even down 
my shirt. A ticklish situation! So being a calm person I 
carefully assed the situation ... I didn't! I bolted to where 
Val stood. 'You're covered in them!', and she took to 
removing them—which required some time. 
Now completely bug free I can say it's good to be back! 
More about little things (bug catchers) and Brisbane 
Ranges NP next issue—unless something else distracts 
me. Hope this finds you ready to indulge—in a bit of nature 
watching. 
Cheers! 
Hyacinth orchid 
Plague Beetle 
6 Geelong Naturalist February 2012 
