A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Cryptophasa irrorata
Spotted on a Casuarina tree were clumps of minute brown pellets stuck to branches. Sticking out from the centre of each clump were casuarina needles. Each clump was about 20 to 30mm wide.
Casuariina tree - ? species Distribution: http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Cryptophas...
These clumps are coverings of entrances to tunnels in the wood in which the Xyloryctine moth larva resides. The brown clumps are stuck together with silk and are probably chewed-up wood. The larva reportedly collects casuarina needles at night, drawing hem into the opening of the tunnel that it has previously made in the wood. It retires into the tunnel and feeds on the collected needles all day. Records show the moth larvae and its shelter in these paintings http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Hom... martinl' spotting (below) shows a close up of the larva http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/159... Further information; http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au... Family: Oecophoridae Subfamily: Xyloryctinae
2 Comments
Thanks Martin. I had made a mistake on one other spotting and was looking through timber-moths when I read about this moth/casuarina needles and saw the paintings done by the Scott sisters. I remembered then that you pointed these things to me at Churchill Park and I got to see the larva - so that's how it all happened. I am pleased I've captured this interesting aspect of these timber-moths for my PN collection.
An outdoor pantry for the arboreal timber moth larva.
Well done to ID this species. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/159...