This is a description of the emu bush grub.
Above: Emu Bush caterpillar - photo by Mike Gillam
Scientific Name (Emu bush): Eremophila freelingii
Arrernte Name: Tyape Utnerrengatye
English Name: Emu bush grub
Description:
Utnerrengatye is dotted with bright red and yellow ochre forming broken brush strokes on the back and a single row of red spots along the sides. When disturbed the caterpillars rear up and smear green liquid onto who is teasing them. Some may also drop to the ground if the bush is touched.
Food Plant/HostPlant:
The uncommon utnerrengatye grub is found on the weeping emu bush (Eremophilia longifolia)
Traditional Uses:
You gather them up into a coolamon or tin. You cook them and eat them like the other two grubs, Ayepe-Arenye and ntyarlke. You would put the emu grub on the ground and squeeze the guts out into a little hole, and then cook the caterpillars in hot soil. Then you get them out and leave them in the sun for two or three days, or longer, to dry. Then you'd share them around and eat them.
Life Cycle:
The hawk moth lays eggs on the leaf of the weeping emu bush and soon hatches an emu bush grub. Then it begins to eat the leaves for about 10 to 12 days. Soon after the caterpillar has eaten and become huge and fat, it falls to the ground and creates an under ground chamber to pupate. After 12 to 24 days it evolves into a hawk moth then mates and survives as long as 2 to 4 weeks.
By Simone