Timber Moth Caterpillar (Family Xyloryctidae)

+ vote

Comments (19)

I'll accept that ID, Mark. Thanks. I admire your dedication.

So it's not "Terramite" like chief Red Earth said.

I'm pretty sure this is the work of Xylorictidae moth larvae.

I kinda like terramites. It has a ring to it :-)

Joseph CHIEF REDEARTH

I beg your pardon. I mean termites. :))

I think Chief meant termites

Terra-ists? Is that a joke, Mark? haha I'll look into Ubuntu. I need someone tech-savvy that can give it to me straight. I've had a pretty good run these past few months, but since I got AV/MW programs, it's all gone to pot! I'm a simple monkey.

..terramite tree terra-ists?... @Neil free yourself. If it's software problems get Ubuntu on a stick and boot from that. No more virus-trojan-malware problems ever!

Endoclita signifer is a new pest on eucalyptus and belongs to the hepialid moths

Joseph CHIEF REDEARTH

TERRAMITE? I looks! Any its interesting!

or like Mark said http://nzacfactsheets.landcareresearch.co.nz/factsheet/OrganismProfile/Puriri_moth_-_Aenetus_virescens.html This ones not on a eucalyptus tree though

Tunnels formed by longicorn beetle larvae are oval in shape and tightly packed with frass (a mixture of sawdust and faeces). http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/forestry/forest_health/forest_health_fact_sheets/factSheets/longicorn_beetles_1

That's probably why the sawdust falls away in sheets. My computer is stuffed again, Mark. Only here sporadically until it spits the dummy again.

It has to be a silk producer which I think rules out beetles and some of the other wood chewers. :).

Thanks kd. I can see the holes, so Mark and yourself are absolutely correct. What sort of grub, I have no idea.

kdpicturemaker

I found some recently. If you look under all the sawdust there will be a few small holes bored into the wood of the tree, inside is a larvae in grub form gnawing away, watch the hole and you might see new sawdust being pushed out as the creature carries on with its daily duties.

You're a good man, Mark. Many thanks.

http://johngrehan.net/index.php/hepialidae/aenetus/aenetus-virescens/ http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8546869