We are super proud to welcome Edgar McNamara @edgarmcnamara to the team!Edgar joins NatureMapr as Junior Platform Engineer and will play a critical role in supporting the platform and our valued custo...

Platform wide attribute changes

New Feature: Moderator Quick Responses!

New priority species lists in the ACT

NatureMapr now receives more records in NSW than ACT

Discussion

kasiaaus wrote:

Yesterday

Thanks @Alice. Is there any body part that I should be taking better photos of when I take photos of Caddisflies to make them easier to identify?

Unverified Caddisfly (Trichoptera)

Mike wrote:

Yesterday

Thanks @DonFletcher, I don’t usually report termite nests, but this stump was shared with coconut ants.

Nasutitermes exitiosus

Alice wrote:

Yesterday

It's a caddisfly, but hard to see defining features for family. Probably a hydropsychid (Hydropsychidae). The larvae build sand-grain shelters on the down side of flow over rocks and logs and spin a net that entraps small particles that they sweep up and feed on.

Unverified Caddisfly (Trichoptera)

DonFletcher wrote:

Yesterday

Hi @Mike, There are two species of mound building termites in the ACT. In the higher, colder parts of the ACT, Coptotermes lacteus, the Milk Termite, builds a very hard, strong mound. Some of these mounds can also be seen on Black Mt, and, more rarely, other lowland sites. In the lower, warmer areas of the ACT (below about 850m) the vast majority of mounds are of Nasutitermes exitiosus, which is in the Gluegun Termite genus. These mounds are softer so that if you kick one it will leave a visible mark or even a depression. There are other distinguishing features as well but hardness is the best.

The soldier termites are also easy to distinguish. Coptotermes soldiers have clearly visible jaws. Nasutitermes soldiers have a 'gluegun' snout, appearing to form a smooth sharp protrusion, with no visible jaws (except under magnification).

Nasutitermes exitiosus

Alice wrote:

22 Apr 2025

Quite likely.

Hydroptilidae (family)

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