Keith Horton, Burnt Scribbly-gum bark (March theme: Lines, shapes, and patterns)

This photo shows a section of the bark of an Australian tree called a Scribbly-gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma). This tree has recently been burned in a fire, which explains the bright colours and the texture of the bark. The 'scribbles' (for which this tree is named) 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.

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