Wildlife Spotting

Below is a link to an article at the Victoria Museum,it has a good deal of info on these insects. http://museumvictoria.com.au/caughtandcoloured/casemothvoice.aspx http://www.flickr.com/groups/aus_lepidoptera/ http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/?w=806927%40N20&m=pool&q=case+moth

Thanks Martin,most flattered you would refer our site for extra info.I agree Martin It looks like a case moth cocoon.I cant tell you a great deal about there life cycle or the adult but i do have some interesting snippets regarding my own observations.One is that these temporary homes are mobile and the caterpillar can extend its body well over half way out of the cocoon to drag its home to another branch or safer position.Another fascinating thing with these insects is the silk they build these cocoons from is unbelievably strong,I think it may be even stronger than the well known silk worms silk.The silk can not be torn by hand and it is very hard to cut even with scissors.I have not come across anything here that matches the strength of there thread. My compliments on Project Noah it rocks.

Here is a close match. http://www.flickr.com/photos/48991563@N06/6046785342/ If Bill cannot I this then I won't try. They can vary in appearance because of the different plants they may be feeding on are what they use for building. This may be a young Saunders casemoth too.