Terrestrial Invertebrate Group

Terrestrial invertebrates (such as insects, spiders, slaters, centipedes, millipedes, snails and earthworms) are key members of our complex ecosystems. Despite this, they do not attract the level of interest that mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, vascular plants and macro-fungi attract amongst many naturalists. Why? – there are probably too many species and not enough specialists to help identify and study them. The Terrestrial Invertebrate Special Interest Group (TIG) was established in order to overcome this deficiency. The FNCV did have an Entomology SIG many years ago, and more recently, an Invertebrate Survey SIG.

The current TIG was formed in 2002 and has meetings every second (even) month that involve a guest speaker. Topics have included butterflies, freshwater insects, threatened insects, spiders, mites, just to name a few. The TIG runs two continuing field projects: a butterfly transect walk at Pound Bend (Warrandyte) to assess longer term changes in the butterfly fauna there, and an invertebrate survey of Yarra Bend Park. It has held invertebrate sorting and identification workshops.

The next TIG event is:

Tuesday 10th June 2008
Insect threats to Australia. Speaker: Antonette Sindik (Australian Quarantine Inspection Service). Meeting at FNCV Club Room at 8pm. Contact: Alan Yen (0409 194 788) or Snezana Trkulja (str94746@bigpond.net.au).

Saturday 14th June 2008 - Botany/TIG combined meeting.
Behind the Scenes Excursion to Museum Victoria Forest Gallery and Live Animal Exhibits. Support talk and behind the scenes tour. Meet at Museum Victoria for tour at 10am to 12noon. *Note: this excursion is limited to 15 people. Contact: Sue Bendel for bookings and meeting location.

Saturday 8th August 2008
The Museum Victoria entomology collections. Talk & behind the scenes tour. Meet at Museum Victoria for tour at 10-12 noon. *Note this excursion is limited to 20 people. Contact: Alan Yen (0409 194 788) for bookings and meeting location.

Contact point

Alan Yen (03) 9722 1665 or 0409 194 788