dr_robert's Identifications

I can't bloody believe it. Scribblers! I wasn't even looking for them.

Plodding back to Eastbourne in the dark and the rain I did a real double take when I saw something unusual on this beech tree. The lichen appeared to be cracked open...linearly...purposefully.....FROM THE INSIDE

This tree has at least four very very fresh scribbles, each line ending in a dome (pupal cap). The caps were silk lined and empty, though included is a photo of one discarded pupa.

Included are some before and after photos, having scratched away the cracked lichen to reveal the prizes of my bizzaro Instant Kiwi game.

Need to get up there with lights pronto in case I can get an adult. Or on a not wet day if they are indeed day flying.

Mission successful(ish) I think.

On the trail of The Scribbler: https://inaturalist.nz/observations?taxon_id=398770

https://www.publish.csiro.au/is/IS02024 describes distribution as 'Widespread throughout much of the North and South Islands of New Zealand from Puketi Forest (ND) to Franz Joseph Glacier (WD)' so it seemed to me there might be absolutely no reason why it wouldn't be in the Tararua Ranges or Remutaka Ranges where the titular host plant Kamahi (Pterophylla racemosa) is widespread.

Found three trees within about 5m of each other with mines. As the trees have grown a bit it looks more like they've been roughly crayon'd.

On doing increasingly wider circuits in the vicinity couldn't find any more. Perhaps there's more up higher. The summit track was closed. I think I'll have a look up Kaiparoro (https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/24186) next chance as there's a staggering amount of Kamahi on the lower slopes.

Mines not as dramatic as the photo in https://web.archive.org/web/20120511205952/http://landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/newsletters/tetaiao/TeTaiaoIssue1.pdf

Last photo possibly an exit point, recent mine, or even an active miner (but unlike John Dugdale I neither had a knife nor a desire to stab it and find out).

tiny bagworm found on a single leaf of Olearia virgata. I guess not Rhathamictis perspera as an Olearia one (though not recorded on O. virgata) per Brian Patrick's publication: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287164039_Lepidoptera_of_small-leaved_divaricating_Olearia_in_New_Zealand_and_their_conservation_priority since Dr Robert mentioned the case being evenly granular: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/163781263

a reasonable consolation prize for an otherwise very unsuccessful trip. On the way out of Waimarino Scientific Reserve which is packed with Olearia virgata, I came across a large tree. Brushing past it, I saw something tiny flying off in a moth like fashion. After giving the branches a few shake, a eventually managed to get a couple of photos of this one - very hard to track them visually, and need them to land somewhere accessible. Would continue until I did better: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/215228691