It's that time of year again..

[Diane]

... so if you're out and about walking this autumn and spot some strange round holes in the ground - often around the base of a gum tree - or some weird, strangely phallic objects lying on the group next to said hole..... fear not, it's just the crysalis of a rather large moth that hatches out at this time of year (and also in Spring)! I want to say it's a sphynx moth but someone more knowledgable than I probably knows for sure...

 

[Diane]

Found this as well which might be a bit more scientific than my guesswork! http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/hepi/atripal.html

[snifter]

Yup, we have those appearing everywhere round here. I was rather bemused when I saw my first one as they are pretty big and you never see the moth, only the husk.

 

I did some research when I found them and came across the same page you linked to. I've been keeping my eye open at night for the moths but as yet have not seen one.

[Diane]

First time we came across one of the moths when we first arrived I thought it was a bat, was so big! Also as they hatch out when it rains, if we have heavy downfalls I have often seen dozens of them battered on the floor at the local shopping centre - at least we haven't had hail like in NSW though - would be hard for a moth to fly in that!