Insects
Moths (Lepidoptera)
Swift and Ghost moths (Hepialidae)
Sighting 4405011

Hepialidae (family) IMMATURE

1 Unidentified IMMATURE Swift or Ghost Moth at Kambah, ACT

Hepialidae (family) IMMATURE at Kambah, ACT - 5 Nov 2021 12:45 PM
Hepialidae (family) IMMATURE at Kambah, ACT - 5 Nov 2021 12:45 PM
Hepialidae (family) IMMATURE at Kambah, ACT - 5 Nov 2021 12:45 PM
Hepialidae (family) IMMATURE at Kambah, ACT - 5 Nov 2021 12:45 PM
Hepialidae (family) IMMATURE at Kambah, ACT - 5 Nov 2021 12:45 PM
Hepialidae (family) IMMATURE at Kambah, ACT - 5 Nov 2021 12:45 PM
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Identification history

Hepialidae (family) IMMATURE 5 Nov 2021 donhe
Hepialidae (family) IMMATURE 5 Nov 2021 ibaird
Unverified 5 Nov 2021 HelenCross

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User's notes

Would you like this one reared to mothhood @donhe ?

14 comments

RogerF wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
Its a Hepialid. see page 228 in my book!
RogerF wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
Its a Hepialid. see page 228 in my book!
HelenCross wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
Thanks Roger - a ghost moth caterpillar! And it did throw itself into violent contortions when I picked it up - although I didn't see/hear any snapping of jaws :)
HelenCross wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
And what should I feed it?
RogerF wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
I'm not sure if it is fresh plant feeder as the one I found was living in compost and could have been a detritus feeder.
HelenCross wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
OK, it was crawling along in the grass and seemed to be tasting the grass leaves but not eating them
RogerF wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
Maybe it was looking for a spot to pupate or the rain filled its tunnel with water
RogerF wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
Thanks Ian. I think Ted Edwards identified my original specimen.
donhe wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
It would be great if you can rear it to moth-hood to get the species, but I suspect it was disoriented due to an infection.
HelenCross wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
An infection?
donhe wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
Yeah: caterpillars get infected with viruses and bacteria just like we do, with flu, measles, etc (probably not covid), and they don't have a GP to go to, to get antibiotics.
HelenCross wrote:
   5 Nov 2021
And you think this because of where I found it?
donhe wrote:
   6 Nov 2021
Yes. Most Hepialidae larvae are innately programmed to burrow into something, and to pupate in their burrow. They do not normally walk about in broad daylight where any passing bird can pick them off.
HelenCross wrote:
   6 Nov 2021
Thanks ::)

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Location information

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Additional information

  • 50mm or larger Animal size
  • Larvae Breeding behaviour

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