Thugs

Honey bees are thugs!!  There - I've said it out loud.  Honey bees are thugs.

I know we can't do without them, and I know we need them for pollination, but when it comes to spotting out our native species of bees, beetles and butterflies, the honey bees just crowd them out. 

I was up at the ridge today, looking at a white flowered plant which must be incredibly nectar rich, because it was crawling with honey bees.  Now, the chances are strong that they are from a feral hive.

The area is far from human habitation, and I do know of several feral hives in the park, in hollow trees, logs and such.

Milliseconds after this photo was taken, the poor little beetle was dive bombed by a couple of bees, and it just few off.  I mean, who wouldn't?

I also spotted quite a few of our tiny native bees, and they didn't stand a chance.  they had to fly in under the radar, and grab a bit of nectar or pollen as quick as quick before they were seen by a honey bee, and dive bombed.

OK - so this is a white-spotted pin-tail beetle. 

Beetles in the family Mordellidae can easily be recognised by their body shape. The last abdomen segment is prolonged and give the beetle the pintail shape. They are small to medium in size. They are usually black or dark brown in colours and some species are white spot patterned. 
 Adult Pintail Beetles can be found feeding on flowers. The are known to jump pr tumble when disturbed.  Some species larvae live in decaying trees and logs. Some are predator and some are parasites. Some others are leaf or stem miners or fungi feeders.