#pyraloidea

@cinnabarlab submitted: found this very pretty moth in upstate NY and i’m fairly sure it’s a type of grass moth but i can’t figure out which kind, and the closest matches i could find weren’t from anywhere near me so i wonder if it’s something invasive or a native species i missed. thanks for any help!

Golden Crambid Moths

Neargyria argyraspis

Grass moth (Cirrhochrista sp.)

30/09/23 Photos 1-4 - Caterpillar constructs

An interesting kind of caterpillar can be found in the rainforests of the Wet Tropics (and elsewhere of course).

The caterpillars typically expected to build portable cases are those within the Tineoidea superfamily, although this behavior is indeed not limited to "bagworms".

These caterpillars, which remained hidden in their strange shoelace shelters, are within the Stericta genus (Pyralidae). Though I was unable to photograph the caterpillars themselves, others on iNaturalist have managed to do so.

(here)

The caterpillars I came across were feeding in a small group on a young tree. Unfortunately, the plant species remains unidentified, though I hope the caterpillar infestation does not hold it back too much.

Stericta spotted before (past posts lack alt text): (link) (link)

30/09/23 - Stericta sp.

Successful Raising of Orthaga picta

What I find a little interesting about this caterpillar, is its strangely shaped frass... Not sure why it looks like that. I’ve seen a few leaf rollers produce frass in that same elongated shape.

Foodplant: Melicope rubra

Specimen: Orthaga picta