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Splendid Ghost Moth
Aenetus ligniveren
-37.9027, 145.33
Field Notes
Description:
Pistachio green with distinct white-cream coloured markings, huge brown eyes on a white 'hooded' head, approx 35mm, notable for a docked, thick tail with pair of tufts.
Habitat:
Open eucalyptus forest.
Notes:
Hepialidae.... Ghost moth or Swift moth.
"..The eggs of this species are laid on the bark of a foodplant. The young Caterpillars when they hatch, bore horizontally into the the stem and then downwards to make a vertical tunnel in which they live. They cover the opening with a mess of silk and wood fragments. The Caterpillars are pale yellow with a dark brown head. They emerge at night to feed on bark, and have been recorded attacking various species of plant" ...[butterflyhouse.com.au]
This one has a similar life-cycle to Elhamma... another Hepialidae.
I apologise for the poor photo but this was taken from an old print and I have never seen one of these before or since. A truly beautiful looking moth.
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:2a…
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