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cup moth cocoon - 2
Doratifera vulnerans
-37.8932, 145.308
Field Notes
Description:
About 15mm long smooth wine goblet shaped structure with a perfectly round "escape hatch" at the apex. This is the cocoon of a cup moth so named because of the shape of the cocoon. The cocoon was the same colour as the branch to which it was attached.
Pic #4 shows the cocoon in the centre of the picture
Habitat:
Eucalyptus tree ( this species not known)
Notes:
This specimen was previously erroneously identified as the bishop's head gumtree gall, a eucalyptus stem gall - it looks similar to the stem gall however, further research showed that the structure is actually the cocoon of a cup moth.This structure was too smooth for a stem gall and the apical opening too perfectly round. Also, there was no explanation I could find for the closed "hatch". It was also a solitary structure.
The cup moth cocoon is apparently strengthened by calcium oxalate. this explains the ceramic-look.
After all the time spent on identifying this - I got it right at last. Sorry to all those who who provided feedback on the "bishop's mitre"!!!
If you'd like to see the moth emerging from such a cocoon see
www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7962916
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