Hi David,
It’s a “curl grub” of a large Scarab beetle (Scarabaeidae), almost certainly genus Xylotrupes.
Cheers,
Eric Vanderduys Technical Officer CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences Phone: +61 7 4753 8529 | Fax: +61 7 4753 8600 | Mobile: 0437 330 961 eric.vanderduys@csiro.au | www.csiro.au | www.csiro.au/people/Eric.Vanderduys.html Address: CSIRO, PMB PO, Aitkenvale, Qld 4814. Deliveries: CSIRO, ATSIP, Bld 145 James Cook Drive, James Cook University Douglas Campus, Townsville Qld 4814, AUSTRALIA
Thanks again everyone. I have now uploaded a few more images to the same gallery showing it almost getting it down then spitting it out. Also a tighter crop to show the grub better. If this changes anyones thoughts or confirms a more specific ID it would be great to know.
http://www.davidstowe.com.au/AustralianBirds/Ibis-Spoonbills/Straw-necked-Ibis/29882470_mc7WTG#!i=2563658830&k=xWwmgMG
Cheers David Stowe
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
Wow! Thanks everyone!! Really appreciate all the help guys! I’ll try to put up a closer crop too which may or not be useful/interesting. Much appreciated!! Cheers Dave
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
for what it’s worth, true witchety grubs are desert dwellers. My bet wood be on the grub of a giant wood moth (Endoxyla) [the genus includes the desert witchety grubs]
________________________________ Sent: Tuesday, 11 June 2013 5:34 PM
Hi all,
Wondering if someone can help me ID the grub in this image?
http://www.davidstowe.com.au/AustralianBirds/Ibis-Spoonbills/Straw-necked-Ibis/29882470_mc7WTG#!i=2563658830&k=xWwmgMG
(In case the link gets broken – http://www.davidstowe.com.au – then look for a Straw-necked Ibis image either in the recent images or via the Aus Birds species accounts.)
I know the ID that i need isn’t of a bird but i have a photo of a bird eating it! It was so big that the bird had to have a couple of goes at it – first time it gagged and had to spit it out! Its been suggested a Witchetty Grub but would love to know more and what it would become? Photo was taken in Cairns (Centenary lakes) last week.
Cheers David Stowe
PS – there is also a few new images in there of the Great-billed Heron i photographed at Centenary Lakes too. ===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org/ =============================== ===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
Hi Dave,
I don’t think it’s a Witchetty grub, which are wood-boring larvae, but it looks like the larvae of a Scarabaeidae beetle species (Christmas Beetle type), the larvae of which live under ground and feed on decaying or fresh vegetable matter. The give away for me is the dark posterior end that shows soil collected in the tail section. They are commonly found in various sizes when gardening, and the reference I have notes that the adult beetles range from 2-70mm in body length with over 2,000 described species in Australia.
Allan Richardson Morisset 2264
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
if you don’t get an answer, then try this forum: http://www.inverts.com.au/forum.php
________________________________ Sent: Tuesday, 11 June 2013 5:34 PM
Hi all,
Wondering if someone can help me ID the grub in this image?
http://www.davidstowe.com.au/AustralianBirds/Ibis-Spoonbills/Straw-necked-Ibis/29882470_mc7WTG#!i=2563658830&k=xWwmgMG
(In case the link gets broken – http://www.davidstowe.com.au – then look for a Straw-necked Ibis image either in the recent images or via the Aus Birds species accounts.)
I know the ID that i need isn’t of a bird but i have a photo of a bird eating it! It was so big that the bird had to have a couple of goes at it – first time it gagged and had to spit it out! Its been suggested a Witchetty Grub but would love to know more and what it would become? Photo was taken in Cairns (Centenary lakes) last week.
Cheers David Stowe
PS – there is also a few new images in there of the Great-billed Heron i photographed at Centenary Lakes too. ===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org/ =============================== ===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
I also agree with Allan that it is more like a scarab beetle larva. In addition to the characteristics mentioned by Allan, part of the exoskeleton of most large scarab beetle larvae is either transparent or discoloured with light grey, which is not usually the case with cossid moth larvae (including witchetty grubs). Close examination of Dave’s photo shows that the posterior half of the grub has that light grey discoloration.
Stephen Ambrose Ryde NSW