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Sawfly larva

Pergidae sp.

Description:

A lot of individual sawfly larvae were feeding on 'sword grass' below a medium sized eucalyptus. Being near midday they would probably climb back up the tree at sunset and cluster into a mass.

Habitat:

Eucalyptus forest near ocean foreshore.

Notes:

This is a type I have not seen before. Very different from the green eucalypus or melaleuca species. Is there a sawfly which feeds on poaceae ??? It was on a stiff grass just like this one 80km away http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/154...

No species ID suggestions

6 Comments

Argy Bee
Argy Bee 9 months ago

..on second thoughts no... I can't match the pale stripe down the side.

Argy Bee
Argy Bee 9 months ago

Thanks for that info Martin. I originally went with that species but thought I should back up one notch. Do you think dorsalis is good for this?

martinl
martinl 9 months ago

Check the third image on this link and the comment. It seems that pied color forms (like yours) occur for P. dorsalis http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au...
I have not found a guide to the 200 australian species and my readhead one is a mystery. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/128...

OnengDyah
OnengDyah 9 months ago

Thank you mark for your information..

Argy Bee
Argy Bee 9 months ago

Hi OnengDyah . The individuals are about 70mm long. They look best/worst when they cluster at night. Here's a cluster of a related species... http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/123...

OnengDyah
OnengDyah 9 months ago

Wouw..how big is it..?

Victoria, Australia

Lat: -38.42, Long: 145.08

Spotted on Aug 11, 2012
Submitted on Aug 23, 2012

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