Mud wasps: solitary and harmless

Mud wasps are large, solitary Australian insects that build nests of mud and provide live, paralysed prey for their larvae to feed on.

An interesting native wasp: black flower wasp

Black flower wasps are large, solitary native wasps with iridescent blue wings. The females burrow into the soil to lay their eggs on beetle larvae. They are not pests.

Redback spider

The redback spider is one of Australia’s most recognisable species due to the distinctive red stripe on the top of their abdomen.

White-stemmed gum moth

White-stemmed gum moths are one of the largest species of moth found in eastern Australia and while adults are rarely seen, caterpillars can be found wandering suburban gardens in search of a place to pupate.

Mouse spider

Mouse spiders are widely distributed across mainland Australia and are a type of trapdoor spider, although they are often mistaken for funnel-web spiders.

Funnel-web spider

Funnel-web spiders are some of the world’s most deadly spiders and are found in coastal and mountain regions of Australia from Queensland to South Australia.

Common paper wasps

Common paper wasp nests occur around the home hanging from eaves, pergolas or vegetation. Adult wasps will defend their nest and can sting repeatedly if threatened or when the nest is disturbed. 

Wolf spiders

Wolf spiders are found throughout Australia ranging in habitats from coastal forests to inland woodlands, shrublands and alpine areas.

Not all flies are a pest

Flies belong to the diverse order of insects known as Diptera and many species exhibit a range of interesting and beneficial behaviour.

Spider wasps

Although spider wasps look alarming, and sometimes paralyse spiders much larger than themselves, they are not aggressive towards people.