Caterpillars??

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Araminta
Araminta's picture
Caterpillars??

I was waiting for some birds to turn up, when I saw something moving. They were marching at a steady pace as one group.Does anyone know, what they are going to turn into??

the ones at the back seemed to be pushing the ones at the front.
I would love to find out, M-L

Qyn
Qyn's picture

These are sawflies M-L. Be aware they are also called spitfires as they will spit if disturbed - I have only seen the darker coloured ones.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Oh boy, thanks Alison. I had no idea they attack the trees. I went back outside to have a look where they went, but they are gone. In the article about them it says, even if they eat the young groth of the trees, it won't kill the tree and it will grow back. I sure hope so. Are they native to Australia, or an imported pest? Should I have destroyed them or are they good for something? If you know the answer to my questions, thanks for your help Alison. M-L

M-L

Woko
Woko's picture

They're great Horsfield's bronze cuckoo tucker at our place, Araminta. I believe they're native to Australia but am happy to stand corrected on this. I hold the principle that if I'm unsure as to whether a plant or animal is native then I leave it alone. It might be the last one on Earth!

Qyn
Qyn's picture

I have to agree with Woko's principle regarding "if I'm unsure as to whether a plant or animal is native then I leave it alone. It might be the last one on Earth!" Sawfly larvae prefer native trees and I believe this species is native to Australia. On the Australian Museum site it says about this group of insect "They are very important ecologically as predators, parasites and pollinators."

I have read that they do not do much harm to healthy eucalypts. I have seen baby larvae on euc saplings and yes the leaves were well chewed but they are now trees so it did not do too much harm. I attended a land for wildlife course (same name but unaffiliated with the gov't schemes) and it was mentioned that relatively healthy but chewed native trees were preferable to pristine trees as they were fulfilling their use in the environment that is providing food, shelter and habitat rather than just an ornament on the landscape.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Woko
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I like the point about trees being more than just ornaments on the landscape, qyn. I sometimes listen to the ABC Radio's Saturday morning gardening show & am interested in the frequent callers asking for ways of ridding their trees & other plants of ants, scale & other natural occurrences. It's a shame the presenter seems loath to point out that all these things work together to create a healthy, not to mention interesting & vibrant, environment.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Thanks Alison for all your information, I read all of it. I do understand the importance of everything working together in the environment. If it only was that easy!? This priciple only works if you can control the introduced species. Well, Thanks to you, I now know: they are native, they have their place in the ecology , and my trees are going to survive this. All I wanted to find out, what they are and what I should do. M-L

M-L

Qyn
Qyn's picture

Hi M-L and Woko, I have to say what I like about you both is your willingness to put your words into actions. It is very easy for people to talk about issues but both of you (and many others here) do action their beliefs and I find it an admirable quality .... of course, only when it is for the things I believe in too!! :^D 8'

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Qyn
Qyn's picture

I edited my original post as the links no longer worked but it has moved the edited post out of it's original position to be the last post. I won't bother editing any others for this reason but none of my previous links in other posts will work.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Meave
Meave's picture

I also had only seen the darker ones, usually see them occupying the entire space of a leaf, all together in a close knit heap. they seem to be there one day, maybe on a couple of different leaves, then just vanish - leaving the chewed leaves behind. Haven't seen them on the ground. I haven't even seen the chrysalises (or whatever the plural is of that word!).

Meave

birdie
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Hey Meave....it is Chrysalides believe it or not...I had to look it up recently when I was hatching Monarchs .

Sunshine Coast Queensland

timmo
timmo's picture

They look a bit different to the sawflies I have seen too, Meave.

The ones I know look just like the ones on qyn55's (Alison's) link. They tend to really like my Callistemons and Melaleucas (as far as I know, at least one species is known as a Melaleuca sawfly). I generally try and leave most insects in my garden, as they make it more interesting and provide food for birds and lizards.

Unfortunately, I left a bunch of these guys alone last year and they nearly stripped bare one of my Callistemon 'Rose Pink' plants. It's only just recovering now, so I'm a bit less inclined to let them go now. 

Cheers
Tim
Brisbane

Woko
Woko's picture

These make great tucker for cuckoos, timmo. I'd encourage you to let them be. As you can see, you're Callistemon has recovered.

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