Thaumetopoeinae (subfamily)

Bag-shelter Moths, Processionary Caterpillars at Franklin, ACT

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Identification history

Thaumetopoeinae (subfamily)	9 Aug 2020	donhe
Thaumetopoeinae (subfamily)	8 Aug 2020	ibaird
Noctuidae (family)	8 Aug 2020	MichaelMulvaney
Trichiocercus sparshalli	10 Jul 2020	donhe
Unidentified	10 Jul 2020	AlisonMilton

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5 comments

donhe wrote:

10 Jul 2020

Could be Trichiocercus sparshalli.
Which end is the head?
Any chance of a lateral view?

AlisonMilton wrote:

10 Jul 2020

I think you are probably right. I think the head was at the top but it wasn't moving. Not in a good position to get a lateral view but looking at other photos it doesn't look like you could see the legs anyway.

donhe wrote:

10 Jul 2020

I really wanted to see if it had the inter-segmental and head and tail tussocks. You only have to put a leaf in front of it and tickle its bum to get it to walk onto it, to get it into a better position for a lateral photo. Unlike identifying moths, identifying caterpillars is not a passive activity.

AlisonMilton wrote:

10 Jul 2020

Thanks Don. I'll remember that in future.

donhe wrote:

8 Aug 2020

No Noctuidae larvae are that hairy, see http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/noctuidae/noctuidae-cats.html The pattern of tufts is characteristic of Thaumetopoeinae, and their colour is characteristic of Trichiocercus sparshalli.

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Location information

Coordinates 149.137060 -35.202333
Altitude 619.3m
Maps Gungaderra Creek Ponds
Places Franklin, ACT

Sighting information

1 Abundance
6 Jul 2020 12:17 PM Recorded on
AlisonMilton Recorded by
Collections
Insects Moths (Lepidoptera) Noctuoid moths (except Arctiinae)

Additional information

12mm to 25mm Animal size
Larvae Breeding behaviour

Species information

Thaumetopoeinae (subfamily) Scientific name
Bag-shelter Moths, Processionary Caterpillars Common name
Not Sensitive
Local native
Non-invasive or negligible
Up to 694m Recorded at altitude
Machine learning
External link More information

Record quality

Images or audio
More than one media file
Verified by an expert moderator
Nearby sighting(s) of same species
GPS evidence of location
Description
Additional attributes