Scribbly-gum tree recovering from fire

The 'scribbles' on the bark of this Scribbly-gum tree (Eucalyptus haemastoma) 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. This particular specimen is responding after a fire by putting out epicormic shoots which grow from buds lying underneath the bark. The bright red and orange colours in the new leaves are due to anthocyanin, a pigment that protects the leaves from insect predation and from sun damage. Fires are common in this area (South-Eastern Australia), but Scribbly-gum trees are well-adapted to survive fire.