Ochrogaster lunifer
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Ochrogaster lunifer larvae migrating for pupation (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Christopher Watson
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Author(s): Christopher Watson
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich-Schäffer, 1855 - (bag-shelter moth, bunny-tailed moth)
This species is found in different parts of Australia. The larvae can defoliate acacias and eucalypts. They have barbed hairs that can cause intense itching. There is also an association of the caterpillars with abortions in horses, possibly caused by these hairs. This condition is called "equine amnionitis and fetal loss".
The caterpillars live gregariously and build silken nests. Some populations are ground-nesting while others are canopy-nesting and both may actually represent different species (Mather, 2019). The fully grown larvae migrate to a suitable pupation site and overwinter in the ground.
- Other images of Ochrogaster lunifer (Wikimedia Commons and PaDIL - click to enlarge)
migrating larvae
ventral view
forewing
head
