Spitfires

Description:

A black mass of larvae, each about 60 to 80mm long and 15mm wide, with lack heads and brownish yellow pro-legs and burnt yellow rear ends. These spitfires or sawfly larvae are the young ones of a wasp from the Pergidae family - Steelblue Sawfly. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/904... They are called 'spitfires' because, when attacked or when they wish to repel, they eject concentrated toxic juices from the eucalyptus plant (on which they feed) from a diverticulum at the floor of the mouth. Pic #5 shows a solitary spitfire - wonder hat he's doing on his own ?

Habitat:

Spotted on a young eucalyptus tree - Spring is almost upon us !!

Notes:

....an awful hideous mass...they are however, interesting. If you are keen, the flickr weblink gives us information on their feeding habits and the "scopa mandibularis" - quite interesting ! http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversi... http://www.flickr.com/photos/32977858@N0...