When I wrote in Musings, I talked about the subtlety, indeed, sometimes absence, of a change of season within my climate – southern hemisphere, arid, dry, long hot summers and short winters. It is not that I was lying, more that I was discussing the averages, the normal, the usual. This year is a bit different in that, despite a prediction for the El Nino weather pattern, which generally gives us a dry winter followed by a dry summer and can see us move into drought, this El Nino is bringing a wet summer.
One month of summer to go and then we should slide into Autumn, marked by fewer extremely hot days and a gradual cooling of the air overnight. Crisp, sunny days and still, increasingly chilly nights. My favorite season generally but also vitally important for the natural world.
The Eucalypts shed their bark in Autumn, and this is when the scribbles appear. There has always been an awareness that the scribbles were formed by an insect but for many years it was believed a beetle was responsible. It wasn’t until the 1930s that the discovery was made that a moth larva was the culprit. However, other than identifying and naming the moth as Ogmograptis scribula, no other research was done until 2011, when a famous Australian scientist put together a team to research the moth. He was over 90 at that time which just illustrates that you are never too old for an enquiring mind and a thirst for knowledge.
The scribbly gum moth mines a tunnel through the growth layer of the bark that produces cork. The tree produces the cork to enable the outer layer of bark to be shed like skin as the tree grows. The growth layer produces a scar tissue filling the larval tunnel with a highly nutritious, rich food for the caterpillar in its’ final development stages.
The team discovered 11 new species of scribbly gum moths and revealed that each moth species has a unique style of scribbling with some doing zigzag patterns, doubling back on themselves, and some producing sine waves.
The scribbly gum moths have been described as our bush artists and have been featured in story books and poetry. I find the artwork of Ogmograptis scribula and her cousins to be a reminder of the beauty and inspiration that exists everywhere in the natural world; hence this is note to self – Always take note, look with care and mindfulness, and appreciate the wonder that surrounds us.
Completed: January 2024
Dimensions: 1000mm H X 590mm W
39.5” H X 23.25” W
Materials: Commercial printed cottons; vintage 100% cotton bedsheet; recycled 100% wool pleated tartan shirt; recycled poly/plastic lampshade cover; satin brocade shirt; commercial threads.
Techniques: Fabric painting; geli-print (eucalyptus leaves); iron-on applique.
I’m loving your gorgeous work, but also your list of materials!! Beautifully done!
Thank you, Karol. I enjoyed completing the materials list as I reviewed all the items I had included in the piece. I always try to include some recycled or repurposed items, but the disintegrating lampshade cover was a chore.
Awesome. I gather the scribbly moth doesn’t actually do damage? We have an insect that is killing our ash trees, the emerald tree borer, who also scribbles, but destroys the tree in doing so. Grrr.
Martha, the moth is a benevolent partner of the tree. They have had a relationship for about 300 million years, both having their origins in the original supercontinent of Gondwana. I’m not sure what benefit the tree gets from the relationship, but the moth gets to feed and develop in safety, away from the predators, snuggled under the bark. Then, when the bark sheds, we get to see the beautiful art of the moth.
Bronwyn, we are living the El Nino here in Canada. Your sharing of amazing movement and stitch, the mention of the scribbly gum moths and here together, we celebrate wonder and beauty.
We will have to see how El Nino treats us both this time around Bethany.