Unexpected discoveries
Opening the light poles for maintenance at Sydney Olympic Park can be an adventure – you never know who might be present inside! This time Henry from Park contractor Tobco found a pleasant surprise: many clusters of Ladybird Beetles.
Clusters of Common Spotted Ladybird Beetles were found inside several light posts.
The hollow homes of wildlife
Light poles on our Park roads are made from many layers of metal and are largely hollow. The hollow body of the pole contains the wiring for the light and often needs checking for maintenance. The hollow can make a great home for wildlife small enough to crawl in. Workers like Henry are often surprised by what is inside – from clusters of ladybeetles to spiders and frogs.
This is due to the poles offering a dark, enclosed space, which is often warmed by the sun – a safe overwintering space. For the many Ladybird Beetles, this space is warm, attracting many individuals to the same place causing an aggregation. Appropriately, an aggregation of Ladybirds is called a ‘loveliness’.
The Ladybirds in this situation are Common Spotted Ladybird Beetles Harmonia conformis. A voracious predator of other insects, this beetle will eat aphids, scale, mites, and other pests in their larval stage as well as an adult. The red colour of ladybirds is a warning – when disturbed they may release a bad smelling toxic liquid. Not so lovely after all!
Two Peron’s Tree Frogs are hiding inside this light pole.