Gafanhoto

Whenever the plant, bird or mammal group encounters a beetle, moth or grasshopper, the specimen is caught for the entomologists. They get very excited over critters that are usually overlooked, and there is high potential for interesting discoveries during these surveys, especially of under-studied taxa in an under-researched place.

The rain was heavy today so I spent a lot of time in an inadequate £3 poncho that I really ought to upgrade. Still there were some interesting hours with the plant team, slowly sampling and documenting all the species that they encounter in the habitat immediately surrounding camp. Plants are the most thoroughly studied ecological group in this area, because over a certain altitude they get very interesting, representing a biome known as 'afromontane'. The lower reaches of the Reserve, where we are, aren't going to wow the crowds, botanically speaking, but it's important the species are recorded alongside the various bats, butterflies and birds that are being noted.

Our dear friend and colleague Tony passed away a year ago today. I think of him daily. I know he'd be happy that conservation of the weird and wacky was still in full swing in various parts of the globe, especially where invertebrates are concerned.