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Project Noah Nature School
Anestia sp.
The previous spotting from 26 Jan http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/867... showed a part-silky part-bristly cocoon covered with pearly bubbles. The cocoon was photographed two days later and the pictures above show hundreds of emerging caterpillar. They were not clearly visible to the naked eye. The caterpillars were tiny but showed bristles( visible in pic #3)
Spotted on an building (outer wall)
They were observed every hour between 10am and 12 pm. there was no change, perhaps more emerging caterpillars.
The female moth seen in the first spotting had disappeared completely. I hope to follow their development.
After 24 hours: Pics 5 & 6 show an empty cocoon and an exuvia of the adult moth. A few undeveloped eggs were still on the cocoon and a couple of dead caterpillars. I could not find a single caterpillar anywhere. Might transfer the cocoon to as native plant anyway as @ martinl's suggestion, just in case. It's a pity I've missed the cattys !!
After 3 years I've got the correct ID. These are Arctiid caterpillars and they feed on lichen.
Family: Arctiidae
Subfamily: Lithosiinae
Spotted on Jan 28, 2012
Submitted on Jan 28, 2012
5 Comments
Maybe clouded footman? (Arctiidae) Just noticed how fabulous those little catties are.
Well it seems the patient ones get a benefit of good food supply. Amazing how we can skew evolution =) I don't know if they will stay nearby or how far they wander before they're adults. They will slow down and the rapid marching is typical of other species' hatchlings too (the solitary ones).
this afternoon (29 Jan) I moved what I thought was an empty cocoon to a black wattle tree and to my surprise I found at least 25-30 caterpillars that dropped out. I transferred the collapsed cocoon with the bee shell and the caterpillars to the black wattle. I have hung my beautiful blue mesh scarf loosely around the branch and have secured the ends (forming a large bag) with some ties. I can't prevent very small predators - but that's the best I could do. I was so happy to see the little caterpillars zooming around the leaves - they move fast, don't they? - thanks again Martin.
Oh Martin, i've missed them. I checked this morning and the cocoon was empty. I took pictures of the surrounding area ( as this is the only way I can see the little caterpillars, but there was not a single one around!!) - see my notes, please.
I might relocate the cocoon to the wattle tree anyway !. Thanks Martin, I am so disappointed - I hope they are safe and I get to see a grown caterpillar or adult around here one day..
This is a spectacular series already Leuba. If you decide to save these by transferring to a nearby branch you might assume that some will remain nearby for your continued observation of their growth. Some entomologists have a large mesh sac that they tie over such a branch to prevent their escape or predation while they grow.