Page 14 - Tropic Magazine Issue 15

TROPIC • UP FRONT

In Season

Tropic’s expert guide to the best
of TNQ nature this December
and January.
Words Nicky Horstmann

Insects / Bite club
One of the better known, but less
revered, insects of the north is the
Green Tree Ant (Oecophylla smaragdina).
Who hasn’t been on the receiving end
of one of their short, sharp nips, after Trees / Pink beauties
all? However, these industrious critters Summer has arrived in all its glory and
deserve some serious respect. Green tree the holiday season is here. Regardless
ants build their nests by ‘gluing’ living of the sweat entailed in embracing Melicope elleryana
leaves together with the silk produced our environment, there can be ample
by their larvae. The adults are capable of reward for getting out and about over
building ‘ant’ chains to bridge the gaps the next couple of months. A drive TO DO: Cairns Botanical Gardens
between leaves and thus pull the leaves down the highway to sample the
closer together. They can even build delights of Innisfail’s delicatessen or If you’re looking for some more holiday
ant bridges to gain access to food when a late-afternoon walk along beautiful adventures/activities be certain not to
required. How many other creatures Mission Beach are admirable goals and overlook the Cairns Botanical Gardens.
can lay claim to such achievements? well worth the effort. On the way, don’t Gentle strolls through the native and
In addition, green tree ants can help forget to keep an eye out for the Pink exotic plantings or more energetic
to keep garden-pest numbers down Euodia (Melicope elleryana) trees that walks along boardwalks under bamboo
and also provide a garbage removal normally flower at this time of year. and palm forests are all available. Take
service as evidenced in our yard by their These rainforest beauties thrive in the the time to get to know some of the
enthusiastic effort to cart a rat corpse up remnant forest habitat that lines many specimens in particular. It is rewarding, I
a tree to their nest. Literally thousands of our coastal creeks and rivers. They can assure you. One of our favourites is
of ants with a singular purpose are discernible by the clusters of pink the Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana) to be
achieving what should have been the blossoms coating their woody stems. found near the corner of McCormack St
impossible – an amazing sight. Closer inspection will reveal trifoliate and Collins Ave. Don’t miss it and don’t
leaves and the tendency to develop forget the insect repellant!
corky bark.
Pink Euodias or Corkwoods are
indispensable to the magnificent blue Another must-do is to check out the
Ulysses butterflies (Papilio ulysses), acting king tides early in the new year. We’re
as a vital host tree for their caterpillars. expecting a high tide of 3.35m on
The flowers attract and feed countless January 2, around 9.30am. That will be
varieties of nectar feeding birds (and eclipsed on January 31 by a 3.47m tide
other butterflies) and it is not unusual to around the same time in the morning.
see flocks of rainbow lorikeets making Take care where you drive or park your
merry among the canopy. No wonder the car, however. Salt water and cars don’t
Euodias are becoming so popular in the mix very well.
Oecophylla smaragdina
urban landscape!

Rusty’s Markets: Herbs galore you need is a food processor, a bunch of basil, a
clove of garlic, some grated parmesan, handful
With the onset of the hot months, Asian greens of pine nuts and lashings of extra-virgin olive
come to the fore at Rusty’s and they make oil. No pine nuts on hand? Substitute pecans or
great healthy stir-fries. Gussy them up with pistachios or almonds. No parmesan? Substitute
some fresh ginger, garlic and chili and you have another sharp cheese. Pesto is great stirred
a meal fit for an eastern potentate. If, however, through hot pasta, producing a light Italian-style
you long for a taste of Europe, fresh basil can meal for the hot weather.
help fill the void. Homemade pesto is easy
unless you are determined to be a purist. All MORE: rustysmarkets.com.au

14 • Tropic • Issue 15