Ice222 Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Must be the season for it. On page 2 of the Wgton CityLife (Jan 18). there's a story of someone who saw one of these Australian moths opodiphthera eucalypti ( beating against his bathroom window ) on Christmas Eve. This one had a wingspan of 12 cm. Says that they only live for 2 weeks. This one's 13.5cm. It's no longer reacting even when touched. Only know it's alive cause it's moved one of it's legs a little. Their feet have amazing grip tho. When it was standing on my hand earlier it felt like I had duct-tape on me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice222 Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 By the way it's still alive, I intermittently hear flapping. I've also discovered 4 of what seem to be eggs. I found online that the eggs tend to hatch in 7-10 days, but have no idea what they eat. I don't know if they're considered a pest or not, since caterpillars eat leaves i assume. But if they're not considered too harmful, I'd love to let them hatch and move them somewhere with suitable food for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 gum tree leaves is staple diet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted January 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 tunnel web eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbird73 Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 By the way it's still alive, I intermittently hear flapping. I've also discovered 4 of what seem to be eggs. I found online that the eggs tend to hatch in 7-10 days, but have no idea what they eat. I don't know if they're considered a pest or not, since caterpillars eat leaves i assume. But if they're not considered too harmful, I'd love to let them hatch and move them somewhere with suitable food for them. Gum trees. The caterpillars of this moth are my favourite, very beautiful, I regularly collected them as a child from the large gum tree at the end of our street. Heres a pic of the caterpillar And this was an honoured guest in the kids favourite climbing tree acouple of weeks ago. He appeared to lick the tree for a day and then left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted January 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 i was fascinated by those caterpillars as a kid. had a gum tree in the back yard. ah memories, just trying to remember if when i burnt the garage down whether or not the tree went with it :rotf: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbird73 Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 yeah I would love to be able to find some for my insect mad daughter but haven't seen any for ages, none on the gum tree next door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted January 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 interesting you say that. I have only seen them once in the last 20, or so, years. not looking all that hard but still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 Wow, that caterpillar really stands out! Neat colourations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 yeah I would love to be able to find some for my insect mad daughter but haven't seen any for ages, none on the gum tree next door try Ira's house..... an 8 or 9 hour road trip but :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice222 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Anyone in Auckland got a gum tree in their yard and wouldn't mind having a few critters on them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted May 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 found this behind some bark on a macrocarpa tree. North east face. possibly the same species as pictured back on page 3 of this thread... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 probably, there is localised variation in them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted May 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 mean looking, little, ovipositor on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted May 5, 2012 Report Share Posted May 5, 2012 found this behind some bark on a macrocarpa tree. North east face. possibly the same species as pictured back on page 3 of this thread... That has such cool colour and markings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 mean looking, little, ovipositor on it. + looks like a 9" blade in that photo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 Anyone in Auckland got a gum tree in their yard and wouldn't mind having a few critters on them ? they also eat pepper trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserole Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 They also eat Silver Birch ( I assume were talking about Empire Gum Moth Cat's ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted May 12, 2012 Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 They also eat Silver Birch ( I assume were talking about Empire Gum Moth Cat's ) silver dollar gum???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserole Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 No "Silver Birch", I did mean what I said = no error. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 I thought this would be a pertinent place to put this photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted October 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 Wellington tree weta? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted October 21, 2012 Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 yes, large brown head, should have a white pad behind its claws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted October 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 like this.. looks like he is poking his tongue out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted October 21, 2012 Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 :rotf: yep from your area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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