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Project Noah Nature School
Metura Elongatis
Saunder's case moths live and pupate in their silken cases which they cover in short twigs as they grow larger. The female remains in the case and has no wings, whereas the male grows wings and emerges from the case. Both sexes reach about 3cm in length. This one had a case of about 8cm.
Found alongside a footpath between a residential block and a small creek.
Spotted on May 3, 2015
Submitted on May 3, 2015
4 Comments
Mark - yes, they choose the strangest of spaces to hang out.
Mauna & goldeneagle - what you can see in the photo is the case the moth creates to live in. The moth itself is actually much smaller than the case which it carries around as it moves from place to place.
Wicked! I thought the same thing as goldeneagle too.
Whoa that's a moth!?
It amazes me how often these guys choose very open spaces to park. Recently I found 2 other sp. which are visually almost identical... but typical, I can't remember where I saw them now. :(