JungleDragon is a nature and wildlife community for photographers, travellers and anyone who loves nature. We're genuine, free, ad-free and beautiful.

Join

Clouded Footman - Anestia ombrophanes The caterpilar shed its skin , build a protective cage and is ready to transform into a pupae. <br /> Image taken 13 December 2017 Anestia ew,Anestia ombrophanes,Australia ew,Clouded Footman,Eamw moth,Karana Downs Qld,May 2021,Pupae Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Clouded Footman - Anestia ombrophanes

The caterpilar shed its skin , build a protective cage and is ready to transform into a pupae.
Image taken 13 December 2017

    comments (11)

  1. View Calbost Niel's profile
    Calbost Niel
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Very clever caterpillar Posted 4 years ago
    1. View Ernst's profile
      Ernst
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thank you Niel. Have to check if it has council permits for it’s structural design. Posted 4 years ago
  3. View Pudding4brains's profile
    Pudding4brains
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Hi Ernst, gorgeous critter and well documented! On a side note: I think it already is in pupal stage ;o) Posted 4 years ago
    1. View Ernst's profile
      Ernst
      Lion
      View Lion class
      You mostlikely right. I have a image of a moth pupae from Vietnamwith a similar protective cage construction and will find it in my orderly photo filing system ( not so) It might give me a clue what to look for. Posted 4 years ago
      1. View Pudding4brains's profile
        Pudding4brains
        Lion
        View Lion class
        The pear formed shape is pretty much a give-away. On this image, to the right, you can see the head and on the wider shoulders, toward the bottom of the cage you can clearly see the wing case. Maybe compare with these moth pupae:
        Sphinx pinastri - Teneral pupa gaining colour Found the caterpillar below in prepupa state (clearly ready to become a pupa) unprotected on the ground under a pine tree:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/102499/sphinx_pinastri_-_prepupa.html<br /> Decided to take it home and give it shelter until next spring. Upon arriving at home it had already moulted to a fresh pupa, probably an hour or so earlier, so I documented the rest of the process of the colour turning brown from 18:00h to 14:00h the next day.<br /> <br /> Update (June 12th 2022): Sometime in the last week (2nd week of June 2022) the glorious moth finally emerged, healthy and well. Obviously, for some reason it had decided to "skip" a year - a phenomena known from more species of moths and beetles etc. We had been checking on it regularly and keeping its make shift home somewhat moist and it would always greet us by wiggling its tail a little, letting us know it was still alive and kicking. Last check was about a week before finding the emerged moth. 4K UHD,Lepidoptera,Netherlands,Pine hawk-moth,Pupa,Sphingidae,Sphinx,Sphinx pinastri,Teneral,nl: Dennenpijlstaart

        Eupithecia valerianata - Pupa (dorsolateral) Resulting pupa from this caterpillar:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/98165/eupithecia_valerianata_-_caterpillar.html<br /> Ventrolateral here:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/98164/eupithecia_valerianata_-_pupa_ventrolateral.html Eupithecia,Eupithecia valerianata,Eupitheciini,Geometridae,Geometroidea,Jane's garden,Larentiinae,Lepidoptera,Moth Week 2020,Pupa,nl Valeriaandwergspanner

        Helicoverpa armigera - Teneral pupa Last week, it decided it was time to go and pupate :o)<br /> Here are the images of the caterpillar:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/85572/helicoverpa_armigera_-_with_red_poo.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/85573/helicoverpa_armigera_-_with_green_poo.html<br /> Update: Same pupa about a week later:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/85859/helicoverpa_armigera_-_pupa.html Cotton bollworm,Helicoverpa,Helicoverpa armigera,Heliothinae,Lepidoptera,Noctuidae,Noctuoidea,Pupa,nl: Katoendaguil

        The 'cage' is just an extra protective layer created by the caterpillar just before shedding its skin to become a pupa         Posted 4 years ago
        1. View Ernst's profile
          Ernst
          Lion
          View Lion class
          Pupae of footman moth species . Genus- Cyana <br /> The protective dome structure is made of the hair from the caterpillar.<br /> The pupae is suspended in the centre of the structure( cocoon)<br /> Eamw moth,Geotagged,Vietnam,unidentified

          This link is from the species I photographed in Vietnam ( Cyana ) similar in someway
           Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
        2. View Ernst's profile
          Ernst
          Lion
          View Lion class
          ARP. Have a look at Leuba Ridgways entry of Anestia ombrophanes. I think that is what it is. It is fascinating. Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
          1. View Pudding4brains's profile
            Pudding4brains
            Lion
            View Lion class
            That certainly looks about right (depending on other similar species maybe). Still do think that your images shows the pupa though. Would be neat if you have a chance to follow up on the rest of the process! :o) Posted 4 years ago
  5. View Wesley Goorachan's profile
    Wesley Goorachan
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Amazing photo Ernst! Posted 4 years ago
    1. View Ernst's profile
      Ernst
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thanks Wesley. Posted 4 years ago
  7. View Ernst's profile
    Ernst
    Lion
    View Lion class
    I will not forget this one if I find one again. Posted 4 years ago

Sign in or Join in order to comment.

The Clouded Footman

The Clouded Footman is a moth of the Arctiidae family. It is known from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.

Info 16 0
Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Ernst
View Ernst's profile

By Ernst

All rights reserved
Uploaded May 16, 2021. Captured Dec 13, 2017 21:11 in 135A College Rd, Karana Downs QLD 4306, Australia.
country flag of Australia Explore Australia 13,072 4,173 3
  • Canon EOS 700D
  • f/22.0
  • 1/1579s
  • ISO6400
  • 55mm

This photo also appears in

Discover more photo collections