Conoeca or Lepidoscia (genera) IMMATURE

Unidentified Cone Case Moth larva, pupa, or case at O'Connor, ACT

Conoeca or Lepidoscia (genera) IMMATURE at O'Connor, ACT - 1 Dec 2020
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Identification history

Lepidoscia (genus) CONE CASE 26 May 2022 donhe
Lepidoscia (genus) CONE CASE 26 May 2022 ibaird
Conoeca or Lepidoscia (genera) IMMATURE 2 Dec 2020 ibaird
Unidentified 2 Dec 2020 ConBoekel

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User's notes

The ant made repeated attempts at pulling open the case. It concentrated at the head end but tried different locations on the case. The casemoth did three things in response: (1) nothing, (2) little runs up the twig when the ant was distracted, and (3) bursts of three rapid shakes to try and throw off the ant. There were numerous other Irido ants in the vicinity and the would-be predator interacted with them but they seemed to be more focused on harvesting the leaf hoppers.

1 comment

donhe wrote:
   2 Dec 2020
Thanks for the fascinating observations. To get a secure identification, you need to take it into captivity, and rear it to get an adult moth. Failing that, we can only conjecture. The long conical shape covered in bands of finely chewed vegetation, has been identified as characteristic of some Lepidoscia species, and a conical case with one or more long sticks attached, like this sighting 4360221, has been noted before at CNM sighting 3388047.

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Location information

Sighting information

Additional information

  • Iridomyrmex purpureus Associated Insect
  • 25mm to 50mm Animal size

Species information

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