Scribbly gum, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, New South Wales, Australia.

A small larva forms wiggly patterns under the bark of a “Scribbly gum” in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 25 km north of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia. A Scribbly gum is one of several species of Australian eucalyptus tree named after zigzag tunnels in the bark made by the larvae of the Scribbly Gum Moth (Ogmograptis scribula, in the Bucculatricidae family). Eggs are laid between layers of old and new bark. The larvae burrow into the new bark and as the old bark falls away, the squiggly trails appear like human scribbles. The diameters of the tunnels increase as the larvae grow, and the ends of the tracks are where the larvae stopped to pupate. The Scribbly Gum Moth is found in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Queensland. Larvae have been found feeding on Eucalyptus pauciflora, Eucalyptus rossii, Eucalyptus haemastoma, Eucalyptus racemosa and Eucalyptus sclerophylla. Mostly native to Australia, Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees (and a few shrubs) in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Many are known as gum trees because of copious sap exuded from any break in the bark. Published in "Light Travel: Photography on the Go" book by Tom Dempsey 2009, 2010.

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A small larva forms wiggly patterns under the bark of a “Scribbly gum” in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 25 km north of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia. A Scribbly gum is one of several species of Australian eucalyptus tree named after zigzag tunnels in the bark made by the larvae of the Scribbly Gum Moth (Ogmograptis scribula, in the Bucculatricidae family). Eggs are laid between layers of old and new bark. The larvae burrow into the new bark and as the old bark falls away, the squiggly trails appear like human scribbles. The diameters of the tunnels increase as the larvae grow, and the ends of the tracks are where the larvae stopped to pupate. The Scribbly Gum Moth is found in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Queensland. Larvae have been found feeding on Eucalyptus pauciflora, Eucalyptus rossii, Eucalyptus haemastoma, Eucalyptus racemosa and Eucalyptus sclerophylla. Mostly native to Australia, Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees (and a few shrubs) in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Many are known as gum trees because of copious sap exuded from any break in the bark. Published in "Light Travel: Photography on the Go" book by Tom Dempsey 2009, 2010.