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.
on

3 comments:

  1. Gouldiae14 July 2009 at 14:23

    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

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  2. Duncan14 July 2009 at 15:50

    They're sawfly caterpillars, Boobook.

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  3. Boobook15 July 2009 at 00:06

    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.

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