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Hepialid moth exuvia

Photo by Mark Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

At branch nodes; was a soft, silk and timber tent; approx 50mm length by 30mm diam.; this covered the entrance to a hole in the plant stem of approx. 10mm diam.; inside was a larva; the larva has now apparently pupated and left it's exuvia attached to the entrance to the stem. (the microscope is at 50x)

Habitat:

Inside the stem of many species. (This one inside Dodonaea viscosa purpurea)

Notes:

Family: Hepialidae
Today I also found 'tents' on an olive tree and a feijoa nearby but it looks as though they have failed. Tents are still sealed and complete but very weathered.

Reference Links:

Hepialidae

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (10)
Sergio Monteiro
Argybee, you did a great job. I'd like to be able to follow the development of some of my critters, but it is hard to do it with free moving ones (today here, tomorrow who knows where?) But I'll keep trying, maybe sometime I can do something as remarkable as this series (did you notice how envy I am?)
eulalia rubio
I imagine your joy in the progress of the investigation and the final conclusion. Great job.
Leuba Ridgway
good one argybee - they do look like an ice-cream cone (burnt caramel). Could the cones be the remnants of the strong mandibles of the grub ?? fantastic shot.
Mark Ridgway
Shanna... yeah a bit plasticky... maybe like the ones they hang in front of ice cream shops... or maybe I'm showing my age here.... oops.
Mark Ridgway
Thanks so much Antonio. I was a little bit slow putting the pieces of the puzzle together but now it all makes sense. I was hoping the microscope might provide absolute evidence of the cocoons and the Elhamma being the same but all I have is the timing.
AntónioGinjaGinja
Argybee,fantastic "story" you bring to us,thanks for sharing this amazing organism,great idea to follow it and spotting it in the several diferent stages,this is a GREAT work,well done congratulations
ShannaB
It looks like an ice-cream cone.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Nests, hives, bowers, webs & other animal architecture

Tags

Photographed
PublishedMarch 6, 2012

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