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Fruit tree borer This photo shows the underside of the moth in the previous post.<br />
I tried to move the moth from the lights as there were many spiders lurking in the fixtures waiting to feast on insects attracted to the lights. As I did so, the moth clung to the small stick and curved the tip of its abdomen and laid on its back making no attempt to fly away. This reportedly is a behaviour seen in this species, which is interesting. <br />
 Australia,Geotagged,Maroga melanostigma,Spring Click/tap to enlarge

Fruit tree borer

This photo shows the underside of the moth in the previous post.
I tried to move the moth from the lights as there were many spiders lurking in the fixtures waiting to feast on insects attracted to the lights. As I did so, the moth clung to the small stick and curved the tip of its abdomen and laid on its back making no attempt to fly away. This reportedly is a behaviour seen in this species, which is interesting.

    comments (1)

  1. Nice underside :) Posted 6 years ago

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The fruit tree borer is a moth of the family Xyloryctidae. It is native to Australia. The moths confront threats by lying down on their back or side, extending the wings upwards and curling the abdomen to display the yellow tip.

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Leuba Ridgway
View Leuba Ridgway's profile

By Leuba Ridgway

All rights reserved
Uploaded Dec 13, 2018. Captured Dec 13, 2018 00:28 in 9 Rose St, Upper Ferntree Gully VIC 3156, Australia.
  • SZ-10
  • f/9.8
  • 10/600s
  • ISO100
  • 5.96mm