Trisyntopa scatophaga

Trisyntopa scatophaga (White, 1922)
(previously known as : Neossiosynoeca scatophaga)
OECOPHORINAE, OECOPHORIDAE

(updated 9 October 2002)

These Caterpillars live in the nests of the parrots :

Golden Shouldered Parrot ( Psephotus chrysopterygius ), and

Hooded Parrot ( Psephotus dissimilis ),

which nest in chambers in termite mounds. The Caterpillars live in a silk cocoon at the bottom of the nest feeding on the droppings of the nestlings.

Further reading :

A.J. Turner, A Lepidopterous Scavenger Living in Parrots' Nests, Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 1923, pp. 170-175.

Australian
Australian Butterflies

Australian
Australian Moths