Timber Moth Caterpillar

Description:

A Timber Moth Caterpillar nest. Found only a few kilometers from a previous spotting, although I believe this to be a different species. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/274... The most noticeable difference is the surface cover of dark fecal pellets. Two nests were found on this tree, and both were covered in the same fecal matter. This was not present on my other spotting. Parts of the surface of this nest was soft to touch, although very gritty, whilst other sections were hard. I'm not to sure how it's all held together, but most likely by a very fine silk. The last photo in the series shows evidence of previous insect boring. Whether it's the same species or not is unknown. PS: Update 17/07/2018. My latest spotting explains the webbing of the nest as 'frass-covered'. Genus also Maroga. https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/15...

Habitat:

This spotting was found on the trunk of a native Spotted Gum (Corymbia citriodora), in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens at Mt. Coot-Tha. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/485... My previous spotting was also found on this species of gum.

Notes:

Sorry, but I was not prepared to damage the nest in order to ID the caterpillar. It just goes against my principles to damage its little home. 99% of the time, 'look but don't touch' is more than enough.