King Island, Tasmania 2023: Bush Blitz expedition report summarises the initial scientific findings of a Bush Blitz expedition to King Island, a remote Tasmanian island located in Bass Strait, halfway between Victoria and Tasmania. Between 23 and 30 October 2023, the expedition team recorded at least 1,301 species, including 44 species that may be completely new to western science (4 moths, a cave-cricket, 37 spiders, a harvestman and a lichen). A threatened snail and 2 threatened plants were also recorded, along with 45 introduced plants and 25 introduced or pest animal species.

Bush Blitz expedition report [PDF – 1.3 MB]

The expedition report includes data from reports provided by the scientists who took part in the expedition. The full scientific reports are available here for those who require more detailed information:

Freshwater aquatic invertebrates [PDF – 353 KB]

Gastropoda (terrestrial) [PDF – 253 KB]

Heteroptera (true bugs) [PDF – 216 KB]

Insects excluding Lepidoptera [PDF – 408 KB]

Lepidoptera [PDF – 1.4 MB]

Marine macroalgae [PDF – 9.8 MB]

Spiders [PDF – 359 KB]

Vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens [PDF – 708 KB]