Jon SullivanMay 3, 2023

Here's a little caterpillar of the NZ endemic moth species, Zapyrastra calliphana, mining it's way through a leaf of the NZ native plant, Muehlenbeckia australis.

This native caterpillar only eats this kind of native plant. Each caterpillar completes its larval life inside just one leaf, before dropping to the ground to pupate.

I found this in my garden on Friday as part of the City Nature Challenge (#CNC2023).

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/159316091

#caterpillar #moth #Aotearoa #NZ #herbivory

Zapyrastra calliphana

Zapyrastra calliphana from Cashmere Hills, Canterbury, New Zealand on April 28, 2023 at 08:56 PM by Jon Sullivan. Feeding in *Muehlenbeckia australis*.

iNaturalist NZ
Show threadPetra
@joncounts unless it can back out of there and cross the centre vein I think that poor caterpillar has just lost the game of snake
May 3, 2023 at 4:39amWeb
Show threadJon SullivanMay 3, 2023

@PetraOleum Hah! Yes, I've also been wondering what it's going to do. I expect it will just cross through it's old tunnel like a pro and keep on mining. 😄

I'll try to remember to check in a few days. The vine it's feeding on is growing up the side of our deck.

Show threadJon SullivanMay 3, 2023

@PetraOleum Caterpillar for the win!

I just popped out and had a look. Hungry caterpillar has no time for games. Hungry caterpillar eats right across it's old mine and keeps on feeding.

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/159365832

#caterpillar #herbivory #nz #Aotearoa #LeafMine #insects

Zapyrastra calliphana

Zapyrastra calliphana from Christchurch including Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand on May 03, 2023 at 05:47 PM by Jon Sullivan. Here's the same caterpillar I photographed on Friday. Then it had walled itself in between the mi...

iNaturalist NZ