#anthelid

[rattyexplores]

✥ Unknown Anthelid caterpillar

Very similar in appearence to Anthela inornata.

27/08/20 - Cairns Botanical Gardens

[anthelid-day]

I found this beautiful moth outside the kitchen window not looking very good. She seemed to be on her way out so I brought her in and she spent about a week living on my herbs in the kitchen and keeping me company as I cooked.

I’m not sure why she had issues with flying and seemed to not want to go anywhere, but she seemed content with being indoors away from the cold.

I’ve yet to look into what she is exactly, but if anyone knows, let me know! All I know is that the wings were very beautiful and she laid eggs on my rosemary plant.

UPDATE! I've just been informed via message that she is a Chelepteryx chalepteryx, in my favourite family Anthelidae! I did wonder because her wings were very similar to the patterns on the smaller counterparts I'd been raising! I've still got her eggs that I'm looking after so maybe I'll have some new caterpillars soon.

[anthelid-day]

“I am good at Hide & Seek!” - An Anthela Ocellata protects itself by curling up, exposing its fur that, upon touch, causes rashes on 70% of the human population and can irritate the mouths of predators who wish to take a bite. When danger is gone, the caterpillar uncurls itself and continues on its journey to become a moth. 

The colours blend in perfectly with the debris on the ground, making it very good at camouflage. 

[anthelid-day]

Part 3: Barbie Bear being released into the pot where she would wait, pretending to be dead leaves until night time. Then she would fly off on a journey to meet a mate. Maybe we will even adopt her offspring in the next season. 

[anthelid-day]

Part 1: Barbie Bear, the female Anthela Repleta who we’ve recently released into the wild. We named her so due to her lovely pink colouring which was noticeably different from the others we had released, even though I have noticed a mauve colour to the legs bodies of some others, it didn’t cover the wings like Barbie Bear’s did. 

[anthelid-day]

“When I grow up, I want to be a moth just like you!”

A male caterpillar with a male moth. 

[anthelid-day]

Polar Bear, one of our grandbabies, preparing to shed her skin. You can see her new face appearing just under the old skin.

[anthelid-day]

Sitting on a cocoon is one of our female Anthela Ocellata’s that hatched out earlier this year and was released out in the country.