Ochrogaster lunifer

1 Bag-shelter moth at Albury

Request use of media

Identification history

Ochrogaster lunifer	7 Aug 2020	Alburyconservationcompany
Ochrogaster lunifer	6 Aug 2020	karenretra
Unidentified	6 Aug 2020	JillC

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

Don’t know what this is. A nest for spiders? Had fallen from a tree at Charles Sturt University. Thurgoona. Very clever use of leaves and twigs in its construction.

7 comments

Alburyconservationcompany wrote:

6 Aug 2020

Very interesting, I have no idea what it is - I hope someone can help! What's the size?

JillC wrote:

6 Aug 2020

About 25cm long. It had fallen to the ground, so I Placed it on a small branch. Quite heavy. Hubble reckons it is a bird nest.

Alburyconservationcompany wrote:

6 Aug 2020

Ok - hopefully a moderator specialising in birds will help out shortly.

karenretra wrote:

6 Aug 2020

It's a nest (or former nest) of processionary caterpillars. They are very hairy and can cause discomfort, so be careful handling even the abandoned 'bag'. Sometimes also known as 'itchy grubs'.
Google will give more info, but to kick off, here's an article discussing their lifecycle: https://austplants.com.au/Processional-Caterpillars-(Ochrogaster-lunifer)

Alburyconservationcompany wrote:

7 Aug 2020

Fantastic Karen!

JillC wrote:

7 Aug 2020

Thank you so much. Have seen several of these over the years and never knew how to identify it. Good on Albury Wodonga Nature Map! And Karen. I’m hooked.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

7 Aug 2020

If you want to see what the moth looks like that lays the eggs that grow into the caterpillar that makes this shelter post the following link in the address box above wodonga.naturemapr.org/Community/Species/Sightings/45158

Please Login or Register to comment.