Brush-tailed Possum Joey

.....Trichosurus vulpecula

As I walked up the backyard to check the moth trap last night there were at least 8 Tasmanian pademelons (Thylogale billardierii) and one Waskily wabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) busily mowing my lawn. Then I spotted this Brush-tailed Possum with it's joey on her back. The possums here are not tame as they are in some places so she wasn't going to allow me to have a clear view. The mum took to hiding in the dense foliage but I don't think she realised that the poor old joey was left out in the open.

This one would be from 4 to 6 months old (roughly). I'm basing this on the fact that they spend about four month's in the pouch and a further month or two on the mother's back.

(Click photos to enlarge)

Brush-tailed Possum Joey

You can see the mother's eye in this shot.

---

Tachinid Fly - Close Up

This fly (family: Tachinidae) came to the mercury vapour light last night. I'd estimate it to be around 10mm in length. It appears to be one of the Tachinid flies, also known as Bristly flies. This family are mostly parasitoids and parasites of moth larvae as well as various other insect groups.

When I lined up the second shot I saw a funny sight through the viewfinder. I noticed a much smaller fly (smaller than this ones head) which kept flying into this ones face and annoying it. Good to see them getting a taste of their own medicine. It reminds me of the old saying:

Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite them,
and little fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum
(from the 17th century writer Jonathan Swift)

(Click photos to enlarge)

Frontal view

Lateral view

---