Tuesday

May 2, 2017

This bizarre looking thing is actually the communal nest
of the Processionary Caterpillar or Bag-shelter Moth.

Nature is pretty cool but don’t touch this one -
it is likely to be filled with hundreds of the itchy grubs,
so called because they can cause severe skin irritation.

10 comments:

  1. Interesting. I'm glad we don't have them here but I am sure we must have their equal.

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  2. I've never seen that before and I don't think I care to. : )

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  3. You could count on my NOT touching it! :

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  4. I wouldn't touch it for a million dollars...

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  5. This is very interesting. The Processional Caterpillar has been in huge numbers on our recent walks. I actually have a video ready to post of them in my next blog. They were coming out of a nest in the ground, beside a tree. I read where they can course horses to abort their foal, if the horse ingests the hairs from the discarded skin.

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    1. Yes I had heard about them causing horses to abort. I will be interested to see that video on your post. Thank you.

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  6. ad they can strip a tree so fast but they never kill them...............

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    1. Yes it will be interesting to see when all the caterpillars emerge as to how much damage they do, and to what particular plants/trees.

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  7. I think it was Canada where I first took photos of them and wondered what they were and was very glad that I hadn't gone too near when I found out.

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