Food
Web on my Verandah
The food web actually starts
over in my garden. I planted seven swamp mahoganies - very pretty
gum trees with new growth that is red. My trees were growing really
well until the Christmas beetles turned up. They ate all of the
new growth and then some. This other bug is probably also eating
my trees.
Eaten Swamp Mahogany.
Christmas Beetle and Bug.
The beetles then fly over to
the verandah and the frogs are in clover. They adore eating Christmas
beetles! Holly also eats Christmas beetles and would eat frogs
too if she were allowed onto the verandah when the frogs are active
at night. In the daytime they sleep.
Holly on the Verandah. Sleeping
Frog.
Nighttime. Frog in Water Garden
and on the Verandah.
If a cicada strays onto the verandah
at night, it is swooped upon by a frog and swallowed in one gulp.
Cicada on the Outside Wall
of the House.
But then along came the snake
- to hunt frogs.
Snake Hanging Over Verandah.
The frogs are also prey to
the tawny frog mouths which live in the paddock. They occasionally
swoop on one of the frogs on the verandah. Maybe they eat snakes
too.
Tawny Frog mouth in the Pepper
Tree.
I haven't actually seen a
magpie eat a snake but they may have a go at little snakes.
My Magpie on Verandah Railing.
And all of this feeding frenzy
is going on literally right on my doorstep!
Food Web on My Verandah.
January, 01
Animal Index