Vegetable caterpillar
This purri moth caterpillar has been infected by a fungus. The fungus feeds on the caterpillar’s internal organs and will eventually kill it. Infected caterpillars are known as ‘vegetable caterpillars’, or ‘awheto’ by the Maori. The Maori burn them and use the ash as pigment for tattoos. Although this specimen has a 2006 accession number it was actually donated to RAMM in 1867.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 148/2006
- Collection Class
- Fungi
- Collection Area Region
- Australia and New Zealand
- Collector Excavator
- Douglas, Lady Martha Elizabeth
- Common Name
- vegetable caterpillar
- Simple Name
- insect and fungus
