Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth

Higgins, ACT

Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth at Higgins, ACT - 28 Jun 2021
Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth at Higgins, ACT - 28 Jun 2021
Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth at Higgins, ACT - 28 Jun 2021
Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth at Higgins, ACT - 28 Jun 2021
Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth at Higgins, ACT - 28 Jun 2021
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Identification history

Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth 8 Jun 2022 donhe
Unidentified 28 Jun 2021 AlisonMilton

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User's notes

Sorry, considered this way too small to bring home to raise to adulthood.

4 comments

donhe wrote:
   29 Jun 2021
Why is being small unworthy of being reared to get the adult to identify its species?
Small moths have small caterpillars.
Meanwhile a clear lateral view to verify its leg-count would be good to distinguish it from being a beetle larva. Grump.
AlisonMilton wrote:
   29 Jun 2021
Sorry Don. I couldn't get a clear lateral view though I tried. This caterpillar looked familiar to a larger specimen I'd seen. I've previously tried to rear caterpillars from a very young age and they have not survived (for whatever reason) so I no longer try to bring very small specimens home. Plus I didn't have any collection bottles with me.
donhe wrote:
   29 Jun 2021
1. You put a twig in front of it and tickle its behind with something so it will walk onto the twig for a nice lateral portrait.
2. It is not an early instar of a macro-moth, but a late instar of a micro-moth, so it is probably ready to pupate. Very easy to care for.
3. You should ALWAYS carry a specimen bottle with you when outdoors.
4. How are we supposed to identify larvae if nobody rears them ?
AlisonMilton wrote:
   29 Jun 2021
Sorry Don. I was just taking a stroll near home with my dogs, without my usual camera gear kit. Very hard to carry all this gear and keep my dogs happy and patient.

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Location information

Sighting information

Additional information

  • Eucalyptus Associated plant
  • 5mm to 12mm Animal size
  • Larvae Breeding behaviour

Species information

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