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
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Allan
Richardson
Sent: Tuesday, 11 June 2013 4:05 PM
To: David Stowe Photography
Cc: <>
Subject: Grub ID - Straw-necked Ibis prey
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
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