Ogmograptis scribula Meyrick, 1935
Scribbly Gum Moth
BUCCULATRICIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley


scribbles on Eucalyptus rossii
(Photo: courtesy of Halina Steele, Canberra)

This caterpillar feeds on the inner bark of Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus species, MYRTACEAE ), particularly :

  • Sydney Scribbly Gum ( Eucalyptus haemastoma ),
  • Snappy Gum ( Eucalyptus racemosa ),
  • Canberra Scribbly Gum ( Eucalyptus rossii ), and
  • Castlereagh Scribbly Gum ( Eucalyptus sclerophylla ).

    When the bark peels away in later years, it reveals the zig-zag tracks made by the caterpillar as it fed.

    The caterpillars grow to a length of about 2 mm. Pupation probably occurs between the layers of bark or amongst detritus on the ground.

    The adult moth is white speckled with brown, and has long dense hairs along the inner margin of each wing., with a wingspan of about 3 mm. The species occurs in:

  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales, and
  • Australian Capital Territory.

    Further reading :

    Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
    A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, pp. 1, 57.

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    (updated 21 May 2013)