Caterpillar ID (forum)

Bill49 starts with ...
I live in Atherton, QLD.. had not seen this caterpillar before, does anyone know what it is? Many thanks and apologies if this has already been answered here.
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Picture: 1

Time: 9th May 2018 4:25pm

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About the Author Bill49
Atherton, QLD
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Danny333 says...
Hi Bill49,

It’s a type of cup moth caterpillar also known as Chinese junk caterpillars. They feed on eucalyptus and macadamia leaves and can give you a very nasty sting from those bristles - I speak from personal experience!

Hope that helps.

Time: 10th May 2018 2:13pm

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About the Author Danny333
Perth
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Kath5 says...
I'm pretty confident that it's a cup moth caterpillar.

It looks a lot like this one:
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/lima/lozogramma.html
But it doesn't have the red, so maybe it's a different species.

Time: 10th May 2018 5:25pm

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About the Author Kath5
GIRRAWHEEN,6064,WA
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Julie says...
I have no idea what it is, but that is a beautiful caterpillar! Can you keep it safe somewhere to see what it turns into?

Time: 10th May 2018 8:53pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi Bill

The closest I can compare with your caterpillar is the famous saddleback caterpillar native to the USA. They have the same four horns with hairs. The only significant difference is the coloration on the back. There are still thousands of unnamed caterpillars, there is a chance that it is still an unknown cat in Australia.

Happy gardening :-)
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Picture: 1

Time: 11th May 2018 10:06am

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Original Post was last edited: 12th May 2018 6:57am

About the Author Fruitylicious1
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Bill49 says...
Many thanks for the replies and link to info - it's good to know what it is. I'm sure I have seen moths like the one in the photo, but had never seen the caterpillar before.. not knowing what it ate, I put it on a (well nibbled) hibiscus in the yard - hope fully it will survive. It was making its way across the veranda when I saw it.

Time: 11th May 2018 2:21pm

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About the Author Bill49
Atherton, QLD
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Harry says...
To accurately identify what species it is, I would submit the pictures to MyPestGuide - they offer a free insect / pest identification service in Australia. Also, they have a mobile app which is available from the google play store.

Time: 11th May 2018 2:46pm

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About the Author Harry
ROXBURGH PARK,3064,VIC
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Mike Tr says...
Cup moth caterpillar and nor really a pest.

Time: 14th May 2018 12:45pm

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About the Author Mike Tr
Cairns
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