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TranslateThaumetopoea pityocampa
Thaumetopoea pityocampa, (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Common name “The Pine Processionary Caterpillar”.
The adult is a moth, of the Thaumetopoeidae Family.
Flight period: May to July.
This Caterpillar is one of the most destructive species and pests to Pine trees, throughout Southern Europe. Not only to Pine trees but also to Cedar Trees through Southern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa.
The adult moth lays her eggs close to the tops of pine trees in cylindrical bodies, from 4 to 5 cm in length. The eggs are covered with scales which come from the female which mimic pine shoots.
The caterpillars will make a number of sheltered nests throughout its life cycle, when finally, a permanent nest is built. The caterpillars will become foragers, feeding on the pine needles, while staying close to the nest, they feed at night and can tolerate extreme cold temperatures around freezing, they will return to the nest before dawn. Nests are mainly constructed where they will get ample winter sun, the warmth helps them to digest their food, throughout the day.
The nest has no openings, so the caterpillars have to force themselves through the various silk layers of the nest. The waste from the caterpillar’s diet, accumulates at the bottom of the structured nest.
When threatened, the Processionary Caterpillar is able to eject its urticating hairs, (the urticating hairs on this caterpillar’s body is used as a primary defence mechanism) which are are extremely poisonous to humans and most mammals. In some circumstances, (especially if a dog has orally eaten a caterpillar), the dog may die, as it soon would be unable to breath through the adverse swelling of the throat, caused through the poisonous hairs of the caterpillar.
T. pityocampa, over winter in their tent-like nests, which are constructed securely to the pine branches and needles, some pine trees will be seen to be supporting several nests.
In Southern Spain, around March or earlier, (depending on climate conditions) the caterpillars will leave their nests in a processionary march, head to tail. They will continue to march down the pine tree, until reaching suitable soft ground, to burrow into, where they will start to pupate.
The adult moth pupal stage occurs in a white silken cocoon under the soil. The pupae are approximately 20mm in length and are pale brownish-yellow colour that change into a dark reddish brown. The adult moths are completely harmless and has predominately light brown forewings with brown markings. (I hope to have some images of the adult moth, on the website in the near future)
Read MoreThe adult is a moth, of the Thaumetopoeidae Family.
Flight period: May to July.
This Caterpillar is one of the most destructive species and pests to Pine trees, throughout Southern Europe. Not only to Pine trees but also to Cedar Trees through Southern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa.
The adult moth lays her eggs close to the tops of pine trees in cylindrical bodies, from 4 to 5 cm in length. The eggs are covered with scales which come from the female which mimic pine shoots.
The caterpillars will make a number of sheltered nests throughout its life cycle, when finally, a permanent nest is built. The caterpillars will become foragers, feeding on the pine needles, while staying close to the nest, they feed at night and can tolerate extreme cold temperatures around freezing, they will return to the nest before dawn. Nests are mainly constructed where they will get ample winter sun, the warmth helps them to digest their food, throughout the day.
The nest has no openings, so the caterpillars have to force themselves through the various silk layers of the nest. The waste from the caterpillar’s diet, accumulates at the bottom of the structured nest.
When threatened, the Processionary Caterpillar is able to eject its urticating hairs, (the urticating hairs on this caterpillar’s body is used as a primary defence mechanism) which are are extremely poisonous to humans and most mammals. In some circumstances, (especially if a dog has orally eaten a caterpillar), the dog may die, as it soon would be unable to breath through the adverse swelling of the throat, caused through the poisonous hairs of the caterpillar.
T. pityocampa, over winter in their tent-like nests, which are constructed securely to the pine branches and needles, some pine trees will be seen to be supporting several nests.
In Southern Spain, around March or earlier, (depending on climate conditions) the caterpillars will leave their nests in a processionary march, head to tail. They will continue to march down the pine tree, until reaching suitable soft ground, to burrow into, where they will start to pupate.
The adult moth pupal stage occurs in a white silken cocoon under the soil. The pupae are approximately 20mm in length and are pale brownish-yellow colour that change into a dark reddish brown. The adult moths are completely harmless and has predominately light brown forewings with brown markings. (I hope to have some images of the adult moth, on the website in the near future)
