Small Pointed Snail

Prietocella barbara aka Small Pointed Snail

Prietocella barbara aka Small Pointed Snail, Cochlicella barbara
Introduced pest
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Superfamily: Helicoidea
Family: Cochlicellidae
Monarto Conservation Park, South Australia – November 8th, 2014 – overcast conditions and light rain

Photos & Text: Michal Dutkiewicz

Small Pointed Snails are considered an agricultural pest. They rarely invade grain crops, but they feed on Lucerne and other plants in the South East. They are a species from the Mediterranean area and were first reported from South Australia from Mt Gambier in 1921. They can be hard to get rid of, and fire is often used to eradicate snail species, but many of these survive in rocky terrain, because they may be resting under rocks. They are dormant for the hot, drier Summer months, when they tend to rest on the surface in leaf litter etc and breed in Winter. Thanks to Dennis Hopkins and the Department of Agriculture for this information.

http://www.biodiversitysnapshots.net.au/bdrs-core/public/speciesInfo.htm?spid=898&mode=fieldguide

http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/pestsdiseases/publications/pestfacts/insect_and_damage_images/snails_in_agriculture

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Boronia coerulescens

Boronia coerulescens ssp coerulescens aka Blue Boronia
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Subclass: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Monarto Conservation Park – August 28th, 2014 – warm, dry conditions

I was taken aback by these small flowers.  They had a crispness that almost made them look artificial – They are part of a large family and are widely cultivated. I haven’t seen too many species in the Bush though – Very beautiful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boronia

Small Gnat Orchid: 1

Cyrtostylis reniformis aka Small Gnat Orchid
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Acianthinae
Monarto Conservation Park, South Australia – August 28th, 2014 – warm, sunny, dry conditions in sandy soil

Photos: Michal Dutkiewicz

Current thinking is that there may be two species – These specimens were photographed in near-desert conditions on a very warm, winter’s day – They are related to the Acianthus genus and their kin, which includes the Mosquito and Mayfly Orchids.

Not all plants look as pristine and “display-room fresh” as the studio shots of subjects taken in perfect conditions – The little battlers in these pictures are only about 2-3cm or so high and they were quite faded, dehydrated and bedraggled, but that is interesting in itself – Showing “Life in the raw”!

Little Desert Spider Orchid

Caladenia (Arachnorchis) capillata aka Little Desert Orchid
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiospermae
Class: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Monarto Conservation Park – August 28th, 2014 – warm, dry conditions on sandy ground