Project Noah is a tool to explore and document wildlife and a platform to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere.
Project Noah is a tool to explore and document wildlife and a platform to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere.
Family: Limacodidae Doratifera sp
About 15mm long smooth wine goblet shaped structure with a perfectly round "escape hatch" at the apex. This is the cocoon of a cup moth so named because of the shape of the cocoon. The cocoon was the same colour as the branch to which it was attached. Pic #4 shows the cocoon in the centre of the picture
Eucalyptus tree ( this species not known)
This specimen was previously erroneously identified as the bishop's head gumtree gall, a eucalyptus stem gall - it looks similar to the stem gall however, further research showed that the structure is actually the cocoon of a cup moth.This structure was too smooth for a stem gall and the apical opening too perfectly round. Also, there was no explanation I could find for the closed "hatch". It was also a solitary structure. The cup moth cocoon is apparently strengthened by calcium oxalate. this explains the ceramic-look. After all the time spent on identifying this - I got it right at last. Sorry to all those who who provided feedback on the "bishop's mitre"!!! If you'd like to see the moth emerging from such a cocoon see www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7962916
Lat: -37.89, Long: 145.31
Spotted on Mar 9, 2012
Submitted on Mar 9, 2012
8 Comments
Yes Martin. I had a look at our mottled cup moth - must have been a delight to see it emerging. BrisbaneInsects say it takes about two weeks for the moth to emerge. This one, you say, won't emerge until next spring ? - I won't bother walking down tomorrow then..
I first identified it as a stem gall - what a laugh !!. My other unknown spotting
www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8933362 is also supposed to be a cup moth cocoon. If you have any thoughts on this, please comment. thanks.
I found such a cup moth and this is what emerged, after many weeks. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/796... This one may possibly emerge next spring since days are getting shorter now?
Cool!
Hey, I found out the mistake myself -which makes it less embarrasing. But I could not delete the spotting, only change it. So, all your comments are still there !!! - please feel free to delete...sorry again.
That's amazing, even though you said it was an insect I still thought it was a gumnut to start with!
Nice spotting,
lovely!
nuts to you