Catapiller behaveiour

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
12/03/2011 09:28

Have been up the hills this morning with my dogs and seen something I have never seen before.

A ' ball ' of catapillers. There must have been several hundred all climbing over each other and in the area around the clump there were lots more.

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
12/03/2011 09:30

Pehaps someone who knows can explain what was going on.

Southcoaster


Joined: 01/04/2009
Posts: 81

Message Posted:
12/03/2011 10:02

If they are near pine trees then they are likely to be the larvae of the Pine Processionary Moth. If they are not, then they are most likely the larvae of the Cyprus Spring Webworm, which is a moth endemic to Cyprus. Living in a mass is probably a defensive mechanism. They should under a web or close to it. They pupate in April and the moth is an attractive pale yellow with black spots.

Earlybird


Joined: 28/04/2009
Posts: 816

Message Posted:
12/03/2011 10:13

If they are Pine Processionary moths BEWARE, especially with dogs around them ~ see this article

http://www.wildsideholidays.com/natural/insects-and-creepy-crawlies/99-moths/319-the-pine-processionary-caterpillar-and-its-life-cycle.html

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
12/03/2011 10:32

We get these in Guernsey,and adds in the paper warning of the dangers,they are poisonous!!!!