[ReneeFraser]

The other night I remembered this time I found an unusual caterpillar in my parents garden. We identified it as an Emperor Gum Moth caterpillar. Unfortunately I never saw any Emperor Gum Moths. But the caterpillar is so pretty.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/Abbysmum/Caterpillar_einin0003r.jpg

This is the moth – though these images are from Google and not necessarily the exact same caterpillar/moth.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/Abbysmum/Female_Emperor_Gum_Moth.jpg

Apparently their foods are Eucalyptus and Pepper Tree. My parents have a pepper tree!

[ReneeFraser]

Will keep an eye out for the book Jacqui.

[ReneeFraser]

See for some reason I don't remember past events well… I've always been like this. I have a feeling we did actually find an Emperor Gum Moth but not alive… I think that was how we found out what the caterpillar was.
It was at least 12 years ago.
I should take another look at the Pepper Tree… I haven't looked at it for a long time. It's very large so unless you climb it you can't really inspect the whole thing. And I'm much too old to climb trees now! LOL

[Jean]

We had a huge pepper tree in Wakefiled and it always had lots of cocoons but never saw caterpillars and only once saw a battered moth. Assumed they hatch out at night as I checked most days….
Jean

[bcjenk]

We have a Liquidamber and sometimes find cocoons on that.
Bryan.

[Jacqui]

They have a fascinating life history. If you can, look in the bookshops for a wonderful children's book called Purerehua (their maori name).

[Author]

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