Caterpillar in Tube - Hemibela sp.

Family Oecophoridae

This page contains information and pictures about Moth Caterpillars in Tube that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.

Tube length 20mm  

 

Caterpillars of genus Hemibela live in tube. They make a hollow tube from small twig and live inside as protection. They change tube when they grow up. They pupate inside the tube as well. All of them feed on gum leaves, although we found the above tube on a Acacia.

 

 

Tube length 10mm

 

Adult moths in this genus of different species are small size, about 10mm of wing span, often brown, yellow with red or white markings. 

 

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Reference:

1. Hemibela species - Australian Caterpillars, by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2001.

2. Moths of Australia - I. F. B. Common, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p224, Fig52.2..

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Last updated: October 12, 2007.