The Mallee Looper (Arhodia sp.) is a native caterpillar eating its way through thousands of hectares of Mallee eucalypts across Victoria and South Australia.

Moths emerge in Spring and tiny caterpillars hatch from eggs laid high in tree canopies. The caterpillars balloon away on silken threads — then spend weeks stripping leaves from Mallee eucalypts. In some areas, several years of repeated defoliation have badly affected the health of the Mallee woodlands. We're working with Wildlife Unlimited to understand what's driving outbreaks and how they can be monitored and managed. Spotted a Mallee Looper? Your observation could help — join our project and contribute to the monitoring effort.