Was on the tv programme Pilot Guides when it visited the Queensland rain forest of Australia. Can't recall the name of the bug, but it weaves its way eating into the bark and then retraces its tract eating the substrance which the tree uses to heal up the wounds cause by the first pass. Is it called something like scribe or scribble? Margaret
It's the bark of one of the scribbly gums, a small group of Eucalyptus species from east-coastal Australia, mainly NSW. The larva of a small moth tunnels through the innermost bark layer in this zigzag manner. Successive layers of outer bark are shed annually and finally the tunnels, by then filled with wound tissue, are exposed at the bark surface. Last I knew the moth was named Ogmograptis scribula -- translators of scientific names can have fun with that one! There are closely related species that feed on other species-groups of Eucalyptus subgenus Eucalyptus, with small variations in the "scribbles" produced. By the way, the picture should be turned 90 degrees.
Greek ogmos-furrow or straight line; graptos- inscribed or painted; Diminutive of Latin scriba- a public writer, official scribe, professional writer, clerk, secretary
scribbly gum Eucalyptus rossii TonyR. You were spot on . Including your observation about the 90 degrees. Well done. Here is the original Pic as I took it.
