Sherwood Arboretum Bug Blitz

Council has arranged two elevated work platforms, operated by contract arborists, to take cuts from the crowns of some of Brisbane's most significant heritage trees. Branches can be cut as directed by attending entomologists, including dead wood and non-living material, and selected living branches where needed to secure specimens. For anyone whose sampling has always stopped at what a beating tray or sweep net can reach from the ground, this is a chance to survey habitat that is normally completely inaccessible!

Established in 1925, Sherwood Arboretum is a 101-year-old, heritage-listed collection of Australian native trees, originally planted with a focus on timber species. Its living collections include:

• Eucalypts

• Figs

• Brachychitons

• Bunya Pines

• Queensland Kauri Pines

• Dry and wet rainforest trees from eastern Australia

• Melaleucas

Despite the site's age and botanical significance, its associated insect fauna has never been systematically documented. This Bug Blitz is intended as the first step toward filling that gap, giving the Council a clearer picture of the biodiversity supported by the arboretum and the ecological relationships within it. This event is open to all who would like to attend, so please invite other entomologists (CSIRO, DPI, students) who would like to collect for this baseline survey. As part of this baseline survey, the arboretum and BCC would appreciate a list of the genus/species collected and to assist in this, participants would be able to keep the insects they collect. Brisbane City Council has also flagged this as the start of an ongoing relationship with the entomological community, with scope for further collaborative survey and research work down the track.

The details:

• Date: Friday 23 October 2026

• Time: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

• Meeting point: Car park off Jolimont Street, Sherwood

• Ground-level collecting off branches only; bring your usual field kit

If you're keen to be involved or know another entomologist who would be, please get in touch as soon as possible or RSVP via this event page.