Keith Horton, Scribbly-gum bark transformation (ANIMAL & NATURE 2022)

These four photos were taken in January and February this year in the Dharawal National Park, New South Wales. They provide an example of the transformation that takes place most years on the trunk and branches of an Australian tree called a Scribbly-gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma). The 'scribbles' on the bark of these trees are made by the larvae of tiny moths, which burrow under the bark to feed on the sapwood. Like many Eucalypts, Scribbly-gums shed their old bark each year, and when they do so the trails of the larvae can be seen as ‘scribbles’ on the new bark. On Jan 9 last year’s bark is more or less intact (see Scribbly-gum bark transformation 1). On Jan 17 last year’s bark is starting to peel away, scribbles and all, and one can see a little of the yellow new bark underneath with its new scribbles (Scribbly-gum bark transformation 2). On Jan 23 last year’s bark continues to peel away, and one can see more of the new bark (Scribbly-gum bark transformation 3). On Feb 14 all of last year’s bark has gone apart from the green sections on the right (Scribbly-gum bark transformation 4). The new bark has already faded a bit. Over the year it may become develop a range of colours like last year’s bark.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.