Caterpillar (haumetopoea pityocampa) of the Processionary moth
Silvery nest of the Pine Processionary Caterpillar (thaumetopoea pityocampa). Photographed in pine trees in Andalucia, Spain, where it’s Spanish name is Procesionaria del Pino, they also live in the forests of Italy, France, Northern Africa and other Mediterranean States. The caterpillars are the larval stage characteristic of the small insect family Thaumetopoeidae (order Lepidoptera), These hairy caterpillars live in communal webs and march during the evening and night in columns to their food source, thus avoiding predators. Their name derives from the head-to-tail trails formed as they move across land. If they are touched, their hairs release a nasty allergic skin reaction.
Size: 3000px × 4500px
Photo credit: © David Taylor / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: caterpillar, larvae, moth, nest, pine, pityocampa, processionary, thaumetopoea, web, “thaumetopoea
