BUTTERFLIES: Pine Processionary / Kiefern-Prozessionsspinner /...

Pine Processionary / Kiefern-Prozessionsspinner / Thaumetopoea pinivora

They do look cute and fluffy, but their hairs cause heavy reactions. For the forest they are not great either. / Die sehen sehr putzig aus, aber diese flauschigen Haerchen loesen arge Ausschlaege aus. Sie sind auch nicht so toll fuer den Wald.

7 comments so far...

Fizgig June 22, 2017, 11:45 PM

Makes my skin crawl to look at 'em.... Great detail to your shot ;)

Sonja June 23, 2017, 12:15 AM

Well, anything that voluntary walks in a row of species members snout end to bum end is a bit weird. Boar, elephants, ducklings, humans on carneval parties.... those caterpillars are no exception....

BJW June 23, 2017, 11:21 AM

Very interesting little things ... never seen anything like this. They are right pretty but would not invite any to my place :) .

Sonja June 23, 2017, 11:55 AM

No, you should better not invite them. That gang is unfortunately dangerous like poison ivy on little legs scuttling about and then they proceed to eat your conifers and spin ugly looking nests for pupating, nothing anyone needs in the yard.

Marvin Matthews June 23, 2017, 12:40 PM

One look is plenty -- but you tried ! A for effort .

remmeltmojet June 24, 2017, 07:26 AM

Good shot; However: we like and admire the butterfly, but we don't want the Caterpillar in our garden, nor on our path.

Sonja June 24, 2017, 02:17 PM

This is not going to be a very pretty butterfly either, Remmelt. As an adult it's a light brown featureless moth with a slightly fuzzy thorax segment as it's only ornament. And it generally has little interest into gardens. It likes best to ruin pines up in the mountains that are supposed to hold off errosion and avalances, so it makes itself even more undesirous than just through poisonous hairs and unsightlly spun craddles.