While the weather was fine this morning I took some photos some of the plants and they looked so refreshed after having to cope with a couple of heatwaves during spring when we had days and days of above average temperatures. We didn't even bother watering the flowers but just concentrated on trying to keep the vegetables alive. However, some of the hardier flowers did survive the neglect and now provide a little bit of colour in the front garden.
As you can see there aren't a lot of flowers growing. What are there are quite colourful though. I thought I would check to see if there were any cucumbers that needed picking as we have planted so many different types of cucumber that they will be coming out our ears soon. :-) I was moving the leaves around so that I could get a better view when I saw something black and shiny.
I got quite a fright as I am always on the look-out for snakes and blue tongue lizards as we have quite a few of the latter but hopefully no snakes on our property and, as it was cool and rainy weather I really didn't think that it was a snake so relaxed a little. However, on closer inspection ....
...I saw this really weird critter which was sitting on top of the cucumber flowers. It nearly frightened the life out of me. It was huge and not your everyday Christmas beetle that we have flying around at this time of year. I asked the garden CEO if he knew what it was and he said it was a Scarab Beetle. I asked Mr.Google for some more information and it seems to be a Rhinoceros Beetle Xylotrupes ulysses australicus.
Has anyone seen one of these before? They are quite large but it appears that they don't bite which is comforting in case I find another one lurking under the cucumbers leaves. They grow to about 60mm (over 2 inches). Apparently they don't put in an appearance when there is dry weather. In Asia they are kept as pets and in northern Thailand they are used in gambling games where the males are induced to fight by putting female beetles inside a bamboo cylinder and placing the males on the outside. The males then fight each other and the winner is the one that pushes the others off. Can you believe that? That little snippet of information was from a Queensland Museum Fact Sheet.
There are more storms forecast for the rest of the week but I will be braving the heat and humidity in Mt.Isa while waiting for my little grandson to be born. The temperature will be 10+ degrees on top of what it is here at home so I think I will be in survival mode. My daughter tells me that the usual dry heat of the Outback is easier to cope with than the humidity. However, as it rarely rains up there I don't think too many people are complaining.
Have you had refreshing rain at your place?
yes, we have had a little rain here too, the grass is growing faster than i can keep it mowed! still very humid though. hate the mugginess of this stormy weather
ReplyDeletehave seen lots of those beetles, had to laugh at "scarab beetle" he does know that if it was he would have some serious problems? thankfully those are extinct. the rhino beetles are quite common here too, an unusual beetle . we haven't had much but here's to more rain!
They certainly are unusual, Selina. Gave me such a fright.
DeleteGoodness, that would have given you a fright and aren't you getting clever with your pictures putting writing on them. I had heard of them but haven't seen one for real. Your flowers are lovely and you have more than me. Im your veggie kinda gal.
ReplyDeleteLynda, you can add the text in Picmonkey if you have nothing else to do with your life :-) I like 'experimenting'.
DeleteWe have the rhino beetles here, too and I have always loved their size and how interesting they are to watch. I admit to a fondness for earwigs as well.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are having the rains. We are still waiting for snow here, but I am perfectly willing to put that off until I move next week. I really like the movers and am hoping that they will not have to work in the mess of new snow and slush.
J, so you will be moved by Christmas. That is great. I am sitting at the airport using the QANTAS free WiFi at present. So far the bub has stayed put so it looks like Nanna will get their in time :-)
ReplyDeleteYay! Rhino beetles are really noisy if you stroke their backs.....great memories playing with them as a kid in Mackay! Love them!
ReplyDeleteAhh the rhino beetle, I haven't seen one of those for ages. We had a bit of rain a couple of weeks ago, and I think there is some forecast for Wednesday, so that will be lovely. My garden grows two feet after a rain, maybe not that much lol. I will do a veggie post soon.
ReplyDeleteHope you are keeping well Nanna Chel. I am sitting on my butt tonight catching up on some blogs. I always seem to be busy! Must get myself more organised I think, so I can fit in all the things I love. Not enough hours in day lately even with daylight savings!
xTania
Yes we have had good rain here too....we lived in Adelaide for many years and the dry heat certainly had its advantages (like instantly drying a load of washing) ...but I prefer the green of the east.
ReplyDeleteHi Chel, hope you have a lovely stay with the new bub and he doesn't get there before you do. Drink lots of water, at least twice what you have at home, it really makes a difference to energy levels and how you feel overall,half a cup at a time and take a water bottle everywhere, so you don't go too long between drinks.
ReplyDeleteI have visisted my son in Malaysia and Cambodia and my daughter at Charleville so I know what a big difference the water intake makes.
I am off to Sydney tomorrow for nearly a week for a friend's 50th wedding aniversary,so will give the Qantas wifi a try on my new tablet.....waaaay better than lugging around a heavy laptop.
Have fun and keep cool.
Hi to everyone. No bub yet. Having trouble connecting to the internet here unfortunately. Am currently trying to get Miss Four to lie down and have a sleep. WE have been up since 6am!
ReplyDeleteThe rain here has been just fabulous and I love going into Summer with a green garden and full water tank. How cool that you have a rhino beetle, my kids would go nuts over that :)
ReplyDelete