Of Apina callisto and an Election

It is 5 days until Australians vote in their 43rd National Election. Since the proclamation of the Australian Commonwealth with the Federation of its then State Colonies in 1901, we have enjoyed a robust, mostly fair and stable Democracy that has seen the formation of 42 Parliaments with an average term of 2 years and 128 days. In my absolutely biased opinion, our three tiered system of Government, (Federal, State and Local Council) whilst not without its faults, is one the treasures of the Society in which I happily reside. This Democracy, despite its early disenfranchisement of the Indigenous people (who were not formally recognised by the Australian Constitution until, ashamedly, 1967), has endured many Wars - mostly external conflicts - dramatic and savage economic upheavals (The Great Depression of the 1930s particularly hit Australia hard with unemployment rate officially well over 25% of the workforce, though unofficially it was considerably higher). It has endured a long post WW2 boom, passed through periods of high inflation and high debt, and survived the turbulent recent times resulting from the greed of overseas Corporations, bankers and their pliant Governments. It is argued that Australia has the fourth longest continuous Democracy in the world. It would be a challenge, I reckon, to name say the top 10 continuous Democracies worldwide - meaning those unbroken or suspended (by War, Dictatorship etc).

One of the most enjoyable roles I have participated on my Civic journey is to help in our Democracy as a Polling Official in Elections. It is a duty I willingly undertake and look forward to roughly every three years. In this role, I assist with the conduct of voting and the counting of votes. Again, in my very biased and perhaps nationalistic opinion (in this regard), the dedication to which staff (both permanent and temporary) who work through the aegis of the Australian Electoral Commission is one I greatly admire. Our Elections are wonderfully corrupt free and unimpeachably honest in their result. There may be debate about our voting systems - we use what if called the preferential system for our Lower House whereby Electors chose their preferred candidates by numbering their choice on the ballot paper from 1 onwards. The Government is formed by the Party or Parties that command a majority in the Lower House called the House of Representatives. We have a proportional representation system based on quotas for the Upper House, called the Senate. In the House of Representative a total of 150 members of Parliament are elected for a nominal 3 year term. Whilst in the Senate, a fixed number (at present 12 Senators) from each of the six Australian States (News South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania plus 2 each from the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory - where the Australian capital, Canberra is located) are elected for a nominal 6 year term. The Senate usually elects 50% of its members at each Election. Though there are variations to this, such as when both Houses of Parliament are dissolved by means of a Double Dissolution, which occurs only rarely when Laws (or Bills) are blocked for passage at least 3 times by members of 'hostile' Senate. But the extent of this essay is not a long technical expose of the robust Australian Parliament and its many nuances.

Australia is a Constitutional Monarchy, believe it or not? Our Head of State is actually Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain as exercised through her local representative, called a Governor-General (the G-G for short). Our National Flag even has the Union Jack in its upper left corner along with the Southern Cross constellation. The G-G is appointed nominally by the Queen on the advice of her Australian Ministers, usually for a term of 5 years. About ten years ago, the question was put to the Australian people via a Referendum as to whether we desired to become a Republic and by what model. This Referendum was defeated, (for a host of reasons) so we still have 'Her Maj' as the Boss. Though, in effect it is the Prime Minister and Ministers of the Crown who 'run' the Country, through Parliament via the assent (or not, as occurred dramatically in the 1975 Constitutional Crisis) of the G-G as representative of the Monarch. The Prime Minister (and thereby his Party) holds office by the confidence of the House of Representatives. In other words, if the PM does not command a majority or the 'confidence' of the House of Representatives, he (or as is the case presently, she) usually resigns from office and an Election is called to secure that confidence. How our Politicians 'manage' the Country is another matter, sure to provoke lively discussion here, such is the stoutness of our political system.

What this has to do with a Caterpillar?

I had set aside the afternoon to read through some training notes for my upcoming role as a Polling Official. I set up a table outside to catch some of the August Sun (in between bursts of rainshowers) in that wonderful, crisp light you get at this time of the season. The radio was tuned to some 'easy music', (hearing Petula Clark or Matt Monro and I go all sugary) and I had some cheesecake suffused by the alluring aroma of ground coffee. Also, I took along my two very modest digital cameras with the intent of cleaning them thoroughly at some stage in proceedings (fortunately as this would turn out). As I was about half-way in my reading through the training manual, an odd shape caught my attention bug-a-lugging over some nearby gravel in the garden. Its colours were striking to say the least. Since being delighted by the exquisite insect photographs taken by 'Wild One' - lessons here in that the most amazing of creatures are often near your doorstep - I put down the manual, grabbed one of the cameras and got up close and personal to a Caterpillar. I was flabbergasted this Caterpillar was in my neck of the metropolis in the first place! Where had it come from stumped me completely but I was not prone in the moment for scientific analysis (not that much science swirls in my poetry saturated brain in between the hollow bits of course). As if on cue, the Caterpillar seemed to stop its accordion like march just long enough for a few photographs to be taken. I took this sighting as another sure sign of the season on the twirl. Generally, it is only come spring that Caterpillars are on the rally leading to their fabulous reincarnation as Moths and Butterflies.

I was like a kid in bug store. But first it was time to ascertain just exactly what Caterpillar was inscribed onto the SD card. The Election training was quickly subsumed as I barrelled my way inside, cranked up the Computer and without too much imagination typed Australian Caterpillars into the search engine. After about 20 minutes or so I had a Eureka moment! There it was; the same shape, colour and pattern of what I had seen. And, what is this Caterpillar? Nothing exotic. No rare species or even a 'new' species where I envisaged the glory of naming rights along the lines of 'Ploddus accordional' or something as obtuse and vain. It was, no less, a Pasture Day Moth Caterpillar (Apina callisto). Now here's the bit where I try to impress, let alone understand what I saw.

Their larvae can grow up to 60 mm (2.5 inches) and they are active feeders during daylight. It is very common in southern Australian climes ranging from south-east Queensland through to Victoria and Tasmania. The Pasture Day Moth usually lays its eggs, as implied by the name, in pastures with the eggs hatching after rains, generally in the spring. The Caterpillars tend to feed on a variety of broadleaf plants and have a liking for Capeweed in particular. They have a rather bold pattern with yellow/orange stripes running down their matt-black back, sometimes interspersed with blue spots. Their bodies are also covered with distinctive white spines that look like multi-arrayed ariels. Whilst they can be locally destructive in certain conditions they are not considered an uncontrollable pest.

When the Caterpillars are fully grown, they burrow into the soil emerging as an adult Moth distinguished by black wings with chestnut markings to a span of approximately 50 mm (2 inches). Its thorax (body between head and abdomen) is black with the abdomen orange ringed with black.

I was thrilled to have encountered this insect thanks to the Australian Democracy and for the inspiration given by 'Wild One'.