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Project Noah Nature School
Spilonota constrictana
On a leaf were two small angular stacked pot-shaped structures about 10 mm tall. They could have been a tightly rolled bark or leaf. The upper "pot" looked like a miniscule cigar cut-up and hollowed. The opening was covered and the whole structure felt quite firm.
Just beside the structure on the leaf was an exuvia of a small insect (pics 1 & 2). A similar structure was seen on a stem, on the same branch (pic 4).
Each part of these odd constructions was smaller than the seed pod on this tree - the pods were slightly larger, rounder with broad bases and narrower openings. The outer skin showed cracking (pic 5).
Spotted on a Melaleuca (Paperbark) tree in a park - not endemic to these parts.
A big thank you to Kristi E for her help with solving this puzzle. She has provided me with the reference link as well.
It happens to be a portable pupal case of a tortricid moth ( leaf roller moth). The main picture shows an exuvia after eclosion.
Spotted on Nov 6, 2014
Submitted on Nov 7, 2014
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