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Long tailed Bombyx (Trichiocercus sparshalli) This moth has an extraordinary history. Although endemic to south eastern Australia, it was first described from a specimen found on a tree in England in 1829 ! The species or genus hasn&#039;t been found outside Australia since. A real mystery. <br /> This one was attracted to night lights near the local national park.<br /> The caterpillars are quite impressive ...<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/36659/sparshalli_moth_larva_trichiocercus_sparshalli.html" title="Sparshalli moth larva (Trichiocercus sparshalli)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2532/36659_thumb.JPG?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=aitcxl2%2BkpIEtNnuZptRhpVIJkk%3D" width="200" height="150" alt="Sparshalli moth larva (Trichiocercus sparshalli) http://www.jungledragon.com/image/36390/long_tailed_bombyx_trichiocercus_sparshalli.html<br /> These caterpillars are up to about 25mm long. <br /> They can appear in several colour combinations which can be confusing. <br /> Sometimes they will follow each other processionary style. <br /> The species was originally described in England from a single moth in 1821 but has never been seen outside SE Australia since. Must have been a stowaway pupa or eggs on a returning convict ship.<br /> Also called Long tailed bombyx.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Australia,Geotagged,Summer,Trichiocercus sparshalli" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/37769/long_tailed_bombyx_larvae_trichiocercus_sparshalli.html" title="Long tailed bombyx larvae (Trichiocercus sparshalli)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2532/37769_thumb.JPG?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=o5xrgifTUab%2BdrzkbfqkuQgxK8s%3D" width="200" height="150" alt="Long tailed bombyx larvae (Trichiocercus sparshalli) I had heard about these larvae clustering like sawfly larvae but have not seen it before. I suspect they only do it when very young as older specimens I have found are always solitary. These were in a tight group of about 50. This species was originally described from a single moth found in 1821 in England but has never been seen outside SE Australia since... a single reverse convict.<br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/36390/long_tailed_bombyx_trichiocercus_sparshalli.html Australia,Geotagged,Summer,Trichiocercus sparshalli" /></a></figure><br /> Australia,Geotagged,Spring,Trichiocercus sparshalli Click/tap to enlarge Species introCountry intro

Long tailed Bombyx (Trichiocercus sparshalli)

This moth has an extraordinary history. Although endemic to south eastern Australia, it was first described from a specimen found on a tree in England in 1829 ! The species or genus hasn't been found outside Australia since. A real mystery.
This one was attracted to night lights near the local national park.
The caterpillars are quite impressive ...

Sparshalli moth larva (Trichiocercus sparshalli) http://www.jungledragon.com/image/36390/long_tailed_bombyx_trichiocercus_sparshalli.html<br /> These caterpillars are up to about 25mm long. <br /> They can appear in several colour combinations which can be confusing. <br /> Sometimes they will follow each other processionary style. <br /> The species was originally described in England from a single moth in 1821 but has never been seen outside SE Australia since. Must have been a stowaway pupa or eggs on a returning convict ship.<br /> Also called Long tailed bombyx.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Australia,Geotagged,Summer,Trichiocercus sparshalli

Long tailed bombyx larvae (Trichiocercus sparshalli) I had heard about these larvae clustering like sawfly larvae but have not seen it before. I suspect they only do it when very young as older specimens I have found are always solitary. These were in a tight group of about 50. This species was originally described from a single moth found in 1821 in England but has never been seen outside SE Australia since... a single reverse convict.<br /> http://www.jungledragon.com/image/36390/long_tailed_bombyx_trichiocercus_sparshalli.html Australia,Geotagged,Summer,Trichiocercus sparshalli

    comments (2)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    That's an interesting history indeed! Do you think it migrated from England to Australia or the other way around? Posted 9 years ago
    1. View Mark Ridgway's profile
      Mark Ridgway
      Lion
      View Lion class
      I think the eggs would have hitched a ride on one of the returning convict ships.
      The larvae feed almost exclusively on eucalyptus so they would have evolved here and had a tough time there.       Posted 9 years ago

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The Long-tailed Bombyx

"Trichiocercus sparshalli", the long-tailed bombyx or Sparshall's moth, is a moth of the family Notodontidae. It was first described by John Curtis in 1830 and it is found in Australia. The wingspan is about 40 mm.

Info 10 0
Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Mark Ridgway
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By Mark Ridgway

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Uploaded Mar 5, 2016. Captured Oct 13, 2012 12:49 in 1284 Burwood Hwy, Upper Ferntree Gully VIC 3156, Australia.
country flag of Australia Explore Australia 13,072 4,173 3
  • DSC-HX30V
  • f/4.0
  • 1/60s
  • ISO100
  • 9.16mm