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Stitched leaves

Family: Tortricidae

Photo by Mark Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Stitched leaves, fresh or dry, forming a slightly convex nest? Stitching done in separate tufts each about 10mm long with approx. 8mm gaps; some tiny creatures inside

Habitat:

On a young supple plant 3metres high (searching) within tall eucalyptus forest.

Notes:

There's a good chance these were created by a Leaf Roller or Bell moth; maybe from the family Tortricidae....
http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_moths/TORTRICIDAE.htm

The leaves of the host plant were slightly similar to lilly-pilly (syzigium, acmena) leaves.

Small caterpillars inside?

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
Muckpuk
How wonderful! Never seen anything like this before!
Mark Ridgway
Thanks craig. The stitches are sort of interesting from an engineering perspective I think... possibly very efficient use of silk.
craigwilliams
Great series! I'm so used to Tortrix moth caterpillars tenting themselves in around plants apical buds and often making a right nuisance of the themselves that it can be hard to appreciate just what a great defense strategy this is. These ones are charming too, like a child learning to sew!
MartinL
I suggest a moth caterpillar. Even though the stitching is from the outside, the caterpillar can skeletenize the leaf from inside its protective cover and keep eating for days. One clue apart from seeing leaf joining by moths before is the frass in pic #1 http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7833336

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Photographed
PublishedJanuary 28, 2012

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