Not a bird, but does anyone know this local insect?

[Peter Cranston via Canberrabirds <>]

Yes, Michael is correct. And she not only does not fly but does not sting. Larva is very important  in processing compost (even including bones and protein). The frass (= excrement) makes great garden fertiliser. Commercialised and available locally from goterra

https://goterra.au/shop/.

Pete Cranston
Honorary Professor ANU

On Thu, 3 Apr 2025 at 18:11, michael mulvaney <> wrote:

It is a female wingless soldier fly Boreoides subulatus

Picture like this can be posted on Canberra Nature Map for identification of any plant, animal or fungi

see https://canberra.naturemapr.org/species/1818

On 3 Apr 2025, at 5:47 pm, Kim Farley via Canberrabirds <> wrote:

I am posting this on behalf of Margaret Robertson. Lots of birders have a wide range of knowledge so can anyone identify this little beastie? Approx 2 cm in length and said to sting. Photo taken at a local Canberra school.

Kim

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