Why you should always clean up and other stories I tell myself

A lot of my stories are based around my recycling bin. I tell you, a lot of good stuff happens there. I once spotted a gorgeous apple-green stick insect laying an egg whilst hanging off the side of the yellow-topped bin. The species of spider, new to science I discovered? That was initially spotted on the bin lid. Well, today I decided it was time to pop on an attachment to the hose and try to remove some of the mould and moss that had made my steps and driveway home over the dank, wet summer.

I try not to use chemicals wherever possible. Once you start spending time looking, really looking at the little life forms around the place, the flies as they blow bubbles, the ants making their way back and forth, touching antennas along the way, the snails and their iridescent trails as they go up and over the rocks in the garden, it’s impossible to not care about them. And so, even though I knew I had to move the mossy forest growing on our front stairs, I felt a tinge of sadness knowing I was also going to be moving on some small creatures, and some even smaller still.

There was one escapee from the water and dirt that I hadn’t expected. A small, glistening Red Triangle Slug was slowly making its way out of the sludge and up the wall of our house. These native slugs are actually the largest land slug in Australia growing up to 14cm in length, but this one was just a little fellow. They’re nocturnal, usually emerging at night to make their way up trees, feeding on the micro algae on the trunk and so this one must have been flushed from its shelter. Oops! Sorry little slug.

But it was lovely to see it during the day, with its flashy red triangle markings in all its glory. They do come in even more striking colour variations throughout their range with an incredible yellow slug in Northern Queensland and a bright pink one in Mount Kaputar in New South Wales which are both, like many, many things, on my must-see list. With all of the rain we’ve been having, you might find some during the day as they venture out without fear of being dried out from the sun. Or when cleaning up around the house. Which I should do more often because I mean, just look at the lovely, slimy benefits!