Mushrooms and Fun(gi) at Grootbos
Winter in the Cape means one thing - mushroom season!
Our Grootbos Foundation Entomology Team has taken a closer look at one of nature’s dazzling creations - the Cuckoo Wasp (family Chrysididae). Known for its stunning iridescence and intricate behaviours, this tiny creature is a master of survival and stealth.
Did you know?
Cuckoo wasps are parasitoid insects that infiltrate the nests of wasps and bees, laying their eggs to ensure their young have a secure start in life. Like their avian namesake, they trick host insects into providing food for their larvae. This feat is achieved through chemical mimicry, emitting the same odour as their unsuspecting hosts!
What makes them shine?
That mesmerising colour isn’t pigment-based! Instead, it’s caused by “pitting” on their exoskeleton, bending light to reveal radiant colours. These structural colours help protect them by camouflaging or dazzling predators.
While they are stunning, cuckoo wasps are incredibly rare in our region, making each sighting a treasure for the Grootbos conservation team.
Grootbos Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation in Gansbaai committed to conserving the Cape Floral Kingdom and uplifting the communities that reside within it. The foundation protects more than 22,200ha of fynbos landscape and biodiversity on Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and the Walk...
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Read MoreWinter in the Cape means one thing - mushroom season!
Did you know Grootbos Foundation has a curated insect collection of over 60,000 pinned specimens?
Camera traps take photographs of secret animals as they go about their private lives.
Winter in the Cape, with its cooler temperatures and steady rainfall, offers the perfect climate for spores to germinate.
The Earth Rangers group from Laerskool Gansbaai had a fun and educational field trip to Grootbos!