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Spitfires
Perga dorsalis
-37.8932, 145.308
Field Notes
Description:
A black mass of larvae, each about 60 to 80mm long and 15mm wide, with lack heads and brownish yellow pro-legs and burnt yellow rear ends. These spitfires or sawfly larvae are the young ones of a wasp from the Pergidae family - Steelblue Sawfly.
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9044002
They are called 'spitfires' because, when attacked or when they wish to repel, they eject concentrated toxic juices from the eucalyptus plant (on which they feed) from a diverticulum at the floor of the mouth.
Pic #5 shows a solitary spitfire - wonder hat he's doing on his own ?
Habitat:
Spotted on a young eucalyptus tree - Spring is almost upon us !!
Notes:
....an awful hideous mass...they are however, interesting. If you are keen, the flickr weblink gives us information on their feeding habits and the "scopa mandibularis" - quite interesting !
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32977858@N02/3295960795/
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