One of our intrepid students has collected an unusual example of the relatively little known ant genus Pseudoneoponera.

This genera of ants is comprised of less than 20 species and ranges from India to Australia. The genus is notable for the unusual foamy defensive secretions its workers exude from the sting, for its small colonies, and for its unusual social systems, including the frequent occurrence of gamergates.

Workers of Pseudoneoponera are distinguished from other ponerine ants by their combination of robust build, coarse sculpturing, shaggy pilosity, obsolete metanotal groove, a nodiform petiole which is semicircular in dorsal view and often has a denticulate posterodorsal margin, longitudinally striate tergite A3 (rarely otherwise sculptured), and strong gastral constriction between A3 and A4.

Pseudoneoponera most closely resembles Bothroponera and Phrynoponera, and to a lesser extent Ectomomyrmex, but these genera lack the shaggy pilosity, semicircular denticulate petiole, and longitudinally striate tergite A3 of Pseudoneoponera, and Pseudoneoponera lacks the spinose propodeum (except Pseudoneoponera bispinosa), five-spined petiolar node, and unconstricted gaster of Phrynoponera, and the small eyes, angular sides of the head, divided mesopleuron (except in a few species), and weakly constricted gaster of Ectomomyrmex.

With the rapid registration of new exhibitors for this years 2023 National Entomology Insect Expo, and with last years exhibitors all keen to be involved at this years event, the C.V.R.I.C is looking at the potential senario that Buffalo Sports stadium in Woodend may not be large enough a venue to host the Expo by 2024, and the Expo is only into its second year!!.

This potential situation needs to be planned for just in case it eventuates, so the group has decided to plan ahead. The only venue capable of hosting the Expo in 2024 and beyond without having to re-locate out of the region in future years is the massive New Gisborne Sports Complex which is currently under construction.
This facility has an internal exhibition area equivalent to 6 full basketball courts and will be well over 6 times the indoor area of Buffalo Stadium.

C.V.R.I.C has become the first to book and lock the new centre for the September 2024 National Entomology Insect Expo in order to permanently remain in the Macedon Ranges.

Here is the promotional You Tube video of the new facility in New Gisborne...enjoy.

New Gisborne Sports Complex

Exhibition places for the 2023 National Entomology Insect Expo are filling up faster than anticipated, causing registration mayhem for the C.V.R.I.C team. Already we have what looks like 35 exhibitors attending the 2023 event with many more showing interest in securing their place early at this stage.
The predicted goal of having 60 exhibitors at this years event looks set to be easily achievable at this rate and its looking very likely that a full participation status will be called far earlier that was first thought.

We will have a better picture of the exhibitor situation once mapping of the floor space and the two rooms (including the main court area) has been completed in the next few weeks. Stay tuned...

The 2023 National Entomology Insect Expo will be held on September the 22nd,  23rd and 24th from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day.
The event is Australias largest exhibition showcasing the entire  Science of Entomology (Insects) to the general public. Now in its second year, this spectacular exhibition will promise visitors a unique and fascinating look into the world of insects and their relatives.
 
Featuring Entomologists, Insect Researchers, Breeders, Spider and Scorpion Keepers, Insect Educators and Specialist Insect Retailers, this amazing event also brings together a large number of static Entomological Collections, 'Live' Insect displays, Spiders, Scorpions and Related Invertebrates, Childrens Workshops, Entomological Merchandise and the ongoing research work of the C.V.R.I.C. Over 60 exhibitors from all over Australia will feature spectacular displays, many of which have never been seen by the public.

Featured Insect Pantomime entertainment to meet and greet all visitors. Quality Food Catering will also be available On-Site during the entire 3 day event.

Dr Russell George Wilkinson (1/2/1939-2/7/2019) grew up in Perth, WA. His undergraduate degree was in the Zoology Dept at the University of Western Australia, majoring in Entomology.

This was when the bulk of his collection was made. It is possible that some of the specimens he collected at this time, particularly in the area of Perry’s Lakes, are now extinct since this area has long since become a housing estate. His Professor advised him to get into ‘this new molecular biology’ and he won a scholarship to get his PhD from London University at the Lister Institute.

(These days the once famous Lister Institute is a private hospital specialising in IVF and cosmetic surgery.)

He followed this with Post-Doc work at Johns Hopkins in the US. He was offered a lecturer position in the Dept of Microbiology at the University of Melbourne and that is where he remained until his retirement as senior lecturer. He specialised in anaerobic bacteriology.
Although his career took him away from entomology, it remained a life-long interest. On a work trip to PNG in 1982 he bought some specimens to add to his collection, it being illegal to collect them himself.

In retirement, his interest came to the fore. He ran a silkworm project which he took to local primary schools, having mastered the art of spinning the silk off the cocoon without harming the chrysalis. Thus the whole life cycle could be observed with the population controlled by the number of eggs one kept. After making the ‘tree change’ to Hepburn Shire and becoming a Foundation Member of the U3A and joining a local garden club, he gave talks on insects and helped educate both adults and children on differences between types of insects, which insects were beneficial in the garden, which to be wary of etc.

He was something of a local expert and people would leave insects in jars in his letterbox for his opinion on whether they were ‘good’ or ‘bad’ on the particular plant on which they were found (or does this ‘bite’ and is it poisonous?). His expertise stretched to the arachnids and he was the ‘go-to’ man to rescue people at all hours from the mythical ‘tarantula the size of a dinner plate’ found in their home. This was despite his explaining that Australia lacks tarantulas and Huntsmen are indeed useful.…

Dr Wilkinsons collection now resides with the C.V.R.I.C thanks to the generous donation by his wife Peppa..

The C.V.R.I.C has been recently donated the Dr Russell G Wilkinson Collection of Insects collected many years ago from the Perth area as well as some spectacular insect specimens of butterflies and beetles collected from Papua New Guinea. We will post images soon.