A web of Lackey Moth Caterpillars, Caergeiliog, Anglesey, Wales, UK.
A web of Lackey Moth Caterpillars. These brightly coloured insect larvae use these webs for protection, a cluster of these caterpillars confuse potential predators by a lack of outline, added to this if approached they flick their heads rapidly from side to side and sometimes drop in to the vegetation below. They are also quite hairy which deters birds from eating them. The presence of these caterpillars is often given away by defoliated shrubs, they strip the leaves by feeding on them from the area around the web then move on to another area of the shrub. The name is supposed to be derived from the colours which were equated to the livery of servants of the aristocracy.
Size: 4928px × 3263px
Location: Caergeiliog, Anglesey, Wales, UK.
Photo credit: © Jim Clark / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: caterpillar, colony, confusion, defoliate, eggar, group, insect, lackey, larvae, lasiocampidae, malacosoma, moth, neustria, predator, protection, web
