A rare Sericogaster Fasciata bee enjoys a feast on a native flannel flower in Faulconbridge. (Photo by V. Shepherd used with permission)
Story by Gabiann Marin
One cloudy afternoon in January 2021, local Faulconbridge resident Dr Virginia Shepherd stumbled upon an amazing discovery, almost in her own backyard. A native bee which had not been recorded in Australia for over 50 years and that was feared extinct.
Dr Shepherd discovered the animal quietly busying itself around the Ridge at Faulconbridge, a place which she believes is one of the most active and important areas for local wildlife and insect activity in the Blue Mountains.
Key Points:
Documenting local insects can be fun, rewarding and a great opportunity to make an unusual or amazing find.
Discoveries of rare and previously believed extinct insects are changing the ways we are seeing the current climate emergency.
Citizen Science and amateur insect enthusiasts are a key part of the climate change solution.
Dr Virgina Shepherd doesn’t look like the average bug enthusiast. University educator and cell biologist by trade, she is more likely to be found in a lab or a classroom than out in the Blue Mountains bushland, but during Covid lockdowns Virginia discovered a hidden passion for the bushland right on her doorstep.
“I am so lucky to live along the Ridge,” Dr Shepherd says. “We have a very special area: a unique kind of ridge system in the mountains. It’s a unique sort of habitat in all sorts of ways. There’s bushland, heath land. We get lots of pea flowers, like the gompholobiums and many other kinds of Australian native pea plants. Such a huge variety of plants in such a relatively small area.”
Yet it was not the local plant life, occasional wallaby or even the bountiful birds that drew her to exploring the Ridge, but rather those usually ignored or misunderstood creatures of the bushland: beetles, hoverflies, bees, wasps and other native insects, which really captured Dr Shepherd’s attention.
Dr Virginia Shepherd explores her local bushland on Faulconbridge Ridge. (Photo: Gabiann Marin)
“You know they are really weird and beautiful,” Dr Shepherd enthuses, as she walks along the Ridge, stopping occasionally to take a digital snap of a tiny hovering insect or inspect the trail of an elusive beetle. Virginia’s enthusiasm is infectious as she rattles off the impossible sounding Latin names of the beetles, flies and bugs she encounters.
Macleay’s swallowtail, (Graphium macleayanum) foraging on Kunzea. (Photo by Dr V. Shepherd used with permission)
She speaks of other ‘finds’: jewel beetles whose glossy shells shine like rubies, emeralds and sapphires; a yellow and green metallic bee she became friendly with over several visits to his favourite flower bed, and of course, arguably her greatest discovery: a crimson and chrome insect sitting quietly on a flannel flower.
“It had a really striking striped abdomen and definitely an hymenopteran head, which (I thought) meant it was an ant, bee or wasp, or it could even have been a fly mimicking a bee. I’d never seen anything quite like it, so I took a whole series of really good quality photos of it taking pollen from this flannel flower. I hardly ever see bees on flannel flowers. So that was another thing that made me think it must be a wasp or a fly. But I honestly wasn’t sure what it was. It was so unusual.”
Thanks to the development of digital photography, the photographing and documentation of insects has become simple and effective, resulting in a huge rise in amateur entomologists across Australia. Dr Shepherd, who only really started getting into insects quite recently, and would never consider herself an expert on the insect world, has uploaded over 5000 photographs of different invertebrates on different internet and insect enthusiast groups, all taken around Faulconbridge Ridge, only metres from her home.
Dr Virginia Shepherd stops to take a photo at one of her favourite spots on the Faulconbridge Ridge. (Photo: Gabiann Marin)
“I just started wandering around, with the camera, seeing these creatures of absolute beauty. I suppose it’s the beauty that draws you in… the incredible nature of their construction. And with digital photography, of course, you can look at a photo and you can blow it up on a screen to the pixel kind of level, so you can see all these details; like these hoverflies, for example, with these incredible orange sensory organs like knobs poking out from their heads. It’s like science fiction, only you can’t make this stuff up.”
So of course, after finding and photographing her unusual find, Virginia started uploading the photographs of the unique crimson and yellow insect onto Facebook groups, and amateur entomology websites like iNaturalist and Bee Aware, asking if anyone had an idea of what the creature could be. No one could give her any answers until, one morning, she got a message from one of Australia’s most well-known and respected bee experts, Ken Walker – and his response blew her away.
“He was really emotional,” Dr Shepherd recalls, “because I had taken this photo of what he knows is an incredibly rare thing, which has not been captured in the 30 million records on iNaturalist and millions of records on Atlas of Living Australia.”
Walker explained that the insect was not a wasp, but actually a very rare type of bee, known as the Sericogaster fasciata, and that the last reported sighting of one was way back in the 1940’s. There had not been any record of a living one in over fifty years.
“And yet there it was, “ Dr Shepherd smiles, “just buzzing around Faulconbridge. Not extinct at all.”
The extremely rare Sericogaster fasciata bee was re-discovered by Dr Virginia Shepherd – over 50 years after it was last recorded. (Photo by Dr V. Shepherd used with permission)
Since this discovery, Dr Shepherd has continued to document the Ridge’s insect life through all the different seasons, noting not just unusual species, but documenting things like life cycles, fertility rates and differences in behaviour as weather patterns change across the region.
“I just became addicted to looking for things,” Dr Shepherd admits, laughing, “and every year, the same cycles begin to repeat. So you see the same things, but they are different. I was out there in winter, on the shortest day of the year, when everything felt very still and very quiet. If you don’t look closely it seems that there are no insects around at all, but you can still see the occasional hoverfly or spider spinning a web.”
“And there are buds on everything, there is this feeling of coiled energy just waiting to burst out. Insects will suddenly appear along with the flowers. That relationship between the insects and the flowers is 140 million years old, a kind of co-evolution, a knowledge of one another’s synchronous cycles that triggers flowering of plants and the emergence of larvae that nourishes eveything else on the planet.”
A native jewel beetle (Castiarina kirbyii) on a local flower, an example of a relationship which has been recurring for 140 million years. (Photo by Dr V. Shepherd used with permission)
While Faulconbridge Ridge may only be a small part of the greater bushland of the Mountains, Dr Shepherd’s observations and efforts to document this small patch of land can have big benefits for our ecosystem at large. Dr Kate Umbers, a local Entomology professor and advocate for invertebrates across Australia, believes that one of the primary issues facing our ecological future is the lack of understanding of insects and their life cycles.
Insects are the foundations of ecosystems and, citing problems like the current bee collapse crisis, Kate insists that by understanding what is going on in the tiny world of insects, we can have predictors of bigger issues, and potentially avoid larger ecological problems.
“But,” Dr Umbers warns, “there can be huge differences in insect populations from one year to the next. It’s not simple to predict or understand what might be a crisis in an insect community simply because we don’t have enough data about them in their natural habitats, [particularly] throughout their life cycles.”
“Important ecosystem functions can be lost long before the species are formally classified as endangered. You can get a year of huge numbers, but you can also get crashes. Because insects don’t live for a long time, population numbers bounce around a lot relative to the climate and the weather. So, they’re really seasonal and subject to changes in our weather and environmental systems.“
Amateur insect enthusiasts like Dr Virginia Shepherd are helping to fill in some of the gaps in knowledge that could end up providing us with real solutions and preventative strategies to combat ecological collapse threatened by climate change, as well as helping to establish more understanding and respect for the insects we rely on.
Dr Virginia Shepherd gains a great deal of personal satisfaction engaging with the bushland, the insects and the environment around her home. (Photo: Gabiann Marin)
And, Dr Shepherd believes, there is immense personal satisfaction and enjoyment to be had by anyone who sets out to document these animals.
“I feel I formed a kind of relationship with these creatures – I just love them. If I see a beautiful Castiarina Beetle in October, when they start to appear, I feel joy. You know, the same with bees. Native bees are much more difficult to photograph, so there’s a real sense of accomplishment, getting photos of them,“ Dr Shepherd reveals.
“And ultimately, as someone who wakes up in despair at night about what’s happening in terms of the climate catastrophe that’s unfolding in front of us, it’s consoling to find these beautiful creatures, living their lives, enjoying their flowers, and quietly making the world a better place.”
The green-gold carpenter bee, (Xylocopa aeratus), now thought to be extinct in Victoria and confined to the Sydney area, was photographed by Dr Shepherd in Faulconbridge. (Photo by Dr V. Shepherd used with permission)
Take Action:
Exploring your backyard, public spaces or nearby bushland for insects can be a great activity regardless of age or fitness level. Uploading your photographs and notes on sites like www.inaturalist.org, www.beeaware.org.au or Invertebrates Australia also helps scientists and climate activists protect and understand these amazing creatures.
Be aware of insect activity around any open area. Planting native flora in your garden can really help native insects of all types and contribute to a thriving ecosystem.
When out in bushland be insect aware and try not to destroy or harm insect habitats or the creatures themselves.
Avoid using pesticides and herbicides – particularly broad-spectrum types which kill every kind of insect in the vicinity. For alternative insect control check out the Invertebrates Australia website or our previous story on insect conservation here: Magical Creatures In The Garden
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
We are looking forward to this (Em)power(ing) tools presentation being delivered by Robyn Catchlove, Sherlie McMillan, Suzie van Opdorp and Teja Brooks Pribac at our Planetary Health Day on Sat 28 Feb. It`s free but you need to register to attend here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
This interactive presentation explores an unexpected but deeply empowering practice: using power tools. With the help of co-presenters and their favourite tools, the session demystifies DIY and shows how accessible practical skills really are. Beyond the satisfaction of building and repairing, working with power tools fosters confidence, patience, and problem-solving skills. It can also be financially empowering, reducing dependence on paid labour, and reinforces the belief that challenges—practical and personal alike—can be worked through with focus, persistence, and curiosity. This session invites participants to reconsider what empowerment can look like, and how hands-on making can translate into resilience in everyday life.
It`s one of many events during our Planetary Health Wellness Weekend at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on 28 Feb and 1 March and has been organised in collaboration with Rotarians 4 Planetary Health and Greater Blue Mountains Rotary
Medicine and healthcare is changing. Join Dr Madhu Tamilarasan, a Lithgow based GP and sports medicine doctor on Sat 28 Feb at our Planetary Health Day and Wellness Weekend, for a conversation about Lifestyle Medicine. The tagline for her practice is "General practice done differently". The practice is encouraging physical activity in the community because research clearly shows that going from no exercise to just 10 minutes of physical activity per day is where the biggest health benefits come from. Any patient who attends an appointment by "active transport" - such as walking, running, cycling - instead of by motorised transport, receives a small discount on their consultation fee that day. Lifestyle medicine focuses on treating the root causes of disease rather than just managing symptoms. Register here to attend Dr Tamilarasan`s session to learn more about its benefits for individuals, community and globally (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
Places are booking out quickly for the inspiring talks and workshops at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend in Katoomba on Sat 28 Feb and Sun 1 March. View the full program and register to attend here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
Each morning, you have the chance to join Andrew Skeoch, renowned wildlife sound recordist and author of `Deep Listening to Nature`, for an immersive workshop and walk to hear the intricate conversations happening in the natural world around us.
There will also be: • nature journalling • mindfulness • creativity • (Em)power(ing) tools • Ikebana • Shared Reading • Tai Chi and Qigong • Chair Yoga • Mental Health First Aid • exercise, sleep and your health • how to share loss and grieving for and with animals • and a celebration of the many faith-based groups in the Blue Mountains focused on healing our land, healing ourselves.
A huge thank you to Greater Blue Mountains Rotary and Katoomba and Upper Blue Mountains Bendigo Community Bank for sponsoring this wonderful weekend.
We’d love you to join the Planetary Health Centre for an inspiring Planetary Health Wellness Weekend on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1st March in Katoomba! We’ve collaborated with Rotarians 4 Planetary Health (part of Greater Blue Mountains Rotary) and the Blue Mountains Interfaith Group, to create a program focused on the many ways we can improve our physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health in a weekend of community and nature connection, talks, workshops, stalls and delicious food.
The weekend kicks off with our third Planetary Health Day on Saturday and finishes with an Interfaith Gathering on Sunday.
Each morning, you have the chance to join Andrew Skeoch, renowned wildlife sound recordist and author of `Deep Listening to Nature`, for an immersive workshop and walk to hear the intricate conversations happening in the natural world around us.
View the full program and register to attend here (link in profile):
• Deep Listening immersive field workshops • Mental Health First Aid • nature journalling • mindfulness • creativity • (Em)power(ing) tools • Ikebana • Shared Reading • Tai Chi and Qigong • Chair Yoga • exercise, sleep and your health • how to share loss and grieving for and with animals • and a celebration of the many faith-based groups in the Blue Mountains focused on healing our land, healing ourselves.
A huge thank you to Greater Blue Mountains Rotary and Katoomba and Upper Blue Mountains Bendigo Community Bank for sponsoring this wonderful weekend.
We had a thoroughly enjoyable final Skill Share Saturday for the year yesterday with Qigong, Fashion Upcycling, Seed Saving and Bushcare! We shared seeds from local gardens and harvested carrots, as well as Mizuna, Broad Bean, Daikon and Land Cress seeds from the Planetary Health garden. We then packaged up (and shared) our first Upper Mountains Seed Savers packs for our fledgling Seed Bank. In Bushcare it`s very exciting to see whole new areas of the Planetary Health Precinct open up as we remove invasive weeds. It`s been a year of great progress as we`ve restored habitat for wildlife and given local native plants the opportunity to flourish and re-establish on the site.
Join the Planetary Health Centre this Sat 6 Dec for the last Skill Share Saturday of the year: Qigong at 9am, Seed Saving & Gardening Group at 10am, and Bushcare at 1.30pm. One perfect day with great company, great coffee and food, and great steps for living a healthy balanced life, while also contributing to the health of our planet for present and future generations. All ages welcome!
Registration links in profile and below.
Register for Qigong here: https://bit.ly/48wlHjD Register for Seed Saving & Gardening here: https://bit.ly/4prcRe7 Register for Bushcare here: https://bit.ly/4oAFDrz
We have a rare opportunity to learn about the newest and best possible ways to support family and community members struggling with mental health issues, at a free talk and afternoon tea provided by Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary at the Planetary Health Centre at 2pm this Saturday 29 Nov. Hear from Peter Joseph AM, Chair of the Black Dog Institute, and Professor Helen Christensen AO, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and former Executive Director and Chief Scientist at the Black Dog Institute. They`ll be in conversation with journalist Emma Rossi. Dr Christensen is a pioneer in using the internet to reach young people struggling with depression. Her digital mental health interventions are used by millions globally, delivering evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. Her research uses data from smartphones and wearables – like movement, screen use, and sleep – to detect early signs of mental health issues. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
This Saturday Sherlie McMillan from Rotarians 4 Planetary Health will be running a workshop on How to use a sewing machine from 9am at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. Learn how to set up a machine, service it, troubleshoot when it`s not sewing correctly, and learn some basic sewing skills.
Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/how-to-use-your-sewing-machine
NB. This class is a prerequisite for our very popular Fashion Upcycling classes held once a month.
We`re thrilled to announce that Professor Helen Christensen, a pioneer in using the internet to reach young people struggling with depression, will be joining the conversation with Peter Joseph AM from the Black Dog Institute and journalist Emma Rossi at the Planetary Health Centre at 2pm this Saturday 29 November. Helen was the Executive Director and Chief Scientist for the Black Dog Institute for 10 years and has now been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Her digital mental health interventions are used by millions globally, delivering evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. Her research uses data from smartphones and wearables – like movement, screen use, and sleep – to detect early signs of mental health issues. This free event is being co-hosted by Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. Afternoon tea will be provided. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
Human composting is increasingly being legalised around the world. Read about it in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/legalising-human-composting/
If you’d like to see this option available in NSW you can now sign a live petition to the NSW Parliament here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/43QIHbz
Thanks to everyone who contributed to deliver a fantastic Disaster Risk Awareness Expo and Family Day yesterday. @mark_greenhill_mayor opened the event at which we celebrated the 13th birthday of Betty the Asbestos Education House; @firecoat_au demonstrated and launched its range of fire retardant products that can help protect homes, gardens and even electricity poles; the Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit was launched; Santa arrived and delighted young and old; and @plantinspired99 and Action for Animals fed us all with a delicious plant-based sausage sizzle. The day was filled with talks, workshops, stalls and the sharing of a huge amount of expertise to keep us, and the other species we share our planet with, safe and healthy! @southkatoomba.rfb @nswses @fireandrescuensw @nswrfs @redcrossleura @redcrossau @shelter.building.design @firehalo.au @asbestosawareness @amelie_ecology @bbagsbluemtns @wireswildliferescue @handsheartfeet
Our marquee is up and we`re excited about our Expo and Family Day tomorrow (Sat 22 Nov). There`s something for everyone from a free sausage sizzle, plants from Santa and drumming and pollinator workshops, to sessions on keeping you and our community safe from extreme weather events and hazardous substances like mould and asbestos. Learn how intumescent paints can slow the spread of fire and pick up a sample pot; check out all our emergency service organisations; learn how to dispose of hazardous materials; paint a native orchid, make some seed balls or sew a boomerang bag to give as plastic-free Christmas presents this year; enjoy coffee and locally made sweets; and get tips on how to retrofit your home safely and beautifully to be prepared for future extreme weather events. View the full program and register here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Gabiann has worked as in-house writer/editor for Amnesty International, Greenpeace and Médecins Sans Frontières across Australia, Africa and the Asia Pacific. She is an award winning novelist and children’s book author, having won or been shortlisted for several Australian and international writing prizes. She was one of the key designers and the writer of the award-winning multimedia interactive narrative, Kids Together Now, which focuses on helping children deal with issues around bullying and racism.
In addition to her role as storyteller for the Planetary Health Initiative, she tutors in narrative and writing at Macquarie University and works as a writer, story developer and script producer.
Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre will host the Disaster Risk Awareness Expo and Family Day on Saturday, 22 November, offering a fun and informative day focused on building safer, healthier and more resilient communities.
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