Who lives here?

Hi All,

Any idea what has made a nest on the tips of my bottlebrush trees.

Both trees have it (about 5 on each plant), and it only appears to have happened to the new shoots that have been growing over the last few months. I walked over earlier in the day to have a look, and something was peaking out, but it must have seen me and shot in.

I have just been out and with a torch, looking in the very small hole in the top it appears to be some kind of bright green caterpillar type thing





Are they Moths, Butterflies, or some other insect that starts life as a caterpillar type thing.

Thanks in advance

 

Usually Winter Moth or similar. Bottlebrushes (Callistemons) are a favourite, I have ten different ones and I have to check them frequently. The soft new growth is easier for the caterpillars to eat.

 

Thanks for that,

I managed to get a peek at a small part of the caterpillar earlier and from the small section I could see, it looked very much like an apple moth larvae (same colour and texture looking skin).

Would an apple moth even nest on a Callistemon?

I was planning to prune off the new growth as it looks strange (a few long shoots sticking out of a bush that has not really grown much, you can tell how far the shoots have gorwn from the rest of the bush in the photos), I assume that what ever it is will leave when its all grown up, and not eat everything in site?

On a different note, when do they usually start flowering, I have only had it a year and it was already in flower when I bought it last April.

Many Thanks