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Project Noah Nature School
Uraba lugens
A 20mm long hairy caterpillar with two rows of prominent yellow dots on the upper side. Similar raised yellow dots wee also seen on the sides. The caterpillar was covered with tufts of white hairs (setae) on the upper surface and on the sides. Could not see the head adequately enough to describe it. But, piled up at the head end and pointing upwards at an angle was a dark segmented protuberance. This happens to be piled up skin from past moults.
open eucalyptus forests
This interesting caterpillar waved it's head end at me, when I tried to turn the leaf to study the sides. I assume, therefore, that the dark pointed collection of dead skin is to "threaten" and fend off predation. Very thrilled to find this caterpillar although it probably demolishes gum trees. Belongs to the Family: Nolidae - tufted moths with dull coloured caterpillars.
Spotted on Jan 30, 2012
Submitted on Feb 1, 2012
3 Comments
That caterpillar needs a haircut! Really cool pic! I wonder if he's poisonous!
Thanks Martin. The adult is so velvety - how lucky seeing it fresh out of the pupa!
Nice pic and description. Yes, they can cause serious damage by defoliating trees. This is their second generation this season and I bred out one from its cryptic cocoon last year. Here is the adult. http://www.flickr.com/photos/66925960@N0...