Unidentified

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Unidentified at suppressed - 26 Sep 2024
Unidentified at suppressed - 26 Sep 2024
Unidentified at suppressed - 26 Sep 2024
Unidentified at suppressed - 26 Sep 2024
Unidentified at suppressed - 26 Sep 2024
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Identification history

Monopis chrysogramma 27 Sep 2024 donhe
Unidentified 26 Sep 2024 LisaH

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User's notes

I went to photograph the bones from a owl pellet collected on 13/4/24, for ID (sighting 4566395) When originally found, the owl pellet was a mass of larvae feeding on the pellet material, which I collected along with the bones. The pellet dried out, and I assumed that the larvae had died. I was shocked (and excited) to discover, months later, that some of the larvae had pupated and emerged! I have no idea when, but they remain collected. Hope this is of interest.

2 comments

donhe wrote:
   27 Sep 2024
@LisaH : Of great interest, see
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/tine/chrysogramma.html
The material around the pupal skin looks like soil, or is it dried material from the pellet?

I wonder if the moth eggs were already on the fur/feathers of the owl's prey, or were laid after the pellet was ejected?
ibaird wrote:
   27 Sep 2024
Nice work documenting your find and rearing the larvae. A new species for NatureMapr and the South Coast region. Excellent photos. Do you know the species of owl?

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Sighting information

Additional information

  • 5mm to 12mm Animal size
  • Deceased Animal health

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  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
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