Tuesday, 14 July 2009

Standing at attention

This is a new one for me. These little caterpillars were on a gum leaf, tails up (or down depending on which side of the leaf you're on), and they seem to have globules at both ends. While I was watching they didn't move at all. I've no ideas for an ID. Maybe they're not even caterpillars.

3 comments:

Gouldiae said...

G'day Boobook,
How weird are they? Looks like they've been enjoying the leaf as a meal. I wonder if the stance is a bluffing or camouflage manoeuvre for protection?
Sorry I can't help with the ID, but I'll keep checking here to see if someone can.
Regards,
Gouldiae

Duncan said...

They're sawfly caterpillars, Boobook.

Boobook said...

Well, well. I would never have guessed that they were ordinary old sawfly lavae - I must have been walking around with my eyes shut :) They don't look like this as they mature.