Caterpillars

[Roderick]

I have just seen three lines of caterpillars crawling across my garden. The longest line is about 8ft 2.4m and the shortest is about 2ft 600mm. On the course of the journey they bunch up and appear to go underground for a while and then one starts to move and they follow nose to tail stringing out again. I have never seen this before and it is quite warm day and I first noticed them at 11.00 this morning. It is now 16.00 and they are still on the move. They look like a small tortoiseshell, with orange spots in two lines and hairs all over, and they are about 50mm long.
I can't post a photo, so it is not possible for me to let you see these caterpillars.
I'll post again when I discover where they end up. One line is travelling in the opposite direction to the others!

[Dogghound]

They wont be small tortoiseshells at this time of year. We either need a detailed description, or a photo/drawing.

[Lance Morgan]

Where are you Sounds like processionary caterpillars.

[Roderick]

Have just uploaded photo's (3) of the caterpillars marching across the garden.
I'm in Brittany.

[pressld2]

Here are the pics...



Dave P.

[Lemars]

They are almost certainly pine processionary caterpillars. They have been moving up from Spain and Portugal via France in recent years.

I first encountered and investigated these a few years ago when I became curious about large, white areas on certain pine trees. The nests were on the ends of the branches and could be clearly seen down the sides of the autoroutes south of Nantes in France.

Pine forests on the continent are wrecked by them - you see what look like large spiders webs on the branches and the trees slowly die. In some areas they spray the trees - but they're everywhere here.
If people see them crawling along paths or pavements, they generally stamp on them, I'm afraid. They're certainly considered an increasingly destructive pest.

Whatever you do, don't touch them and don't let your cat or dog near them. From what I gather, a lick from a curious animal can be its undoing - though I'm not sure quite what it is about the caterpillar which is damaging. They will almost certainly give you contact dermatitis if you touch them.

People here who find these nests on trees in their gardens remove the entire branch wearing plastic gauntlets - and burn the branches.

I'm aware that there are other processionaries, but this is the best known and if yours are something other than the pine processionary, perhaps they're not as damaging.

I thought it best to mention it - just in case. I should look them up online - I only have a video, so can't post a picture.

[Roderick]

This explains all.
I noticed these what appeared to be seed pods on a Pine tree last November.
Now I see there are 3 of them, one at the top of the tree and two further down.
The caterpillars were coming from the direction of the tree but I didn't link the two together.
These Pods are very high up - about 15 metres or so.
Do I need to report this to the Mairie?

[Lemars]

I don't think so - they'd be inundated !! Well, where I am they would. There are whole forests of green-and-white down here.

It took me ages to discover what they were. Did I think to ask someone ? No I didn't.
Just try putting "white spiders nests in trees" in a search and every possible variation of that ! I didn't know about nature forums then !!

That said, they've left your trees now, but they'll be back. If you don't want to lose your trees though, I'd get rid of those nests and burn the branches (wearing protecting gloves) and keep a close eye out for future nests. I have a neighbour who has disposed of them every year, but the numbers keep increasing and he's being less vigilant. Now they're spreading to our solitary pine.
A lot of people don't know what they are, or simply don't look up. If you see them locally - tell whoever owns the land.

Geez - I sound like a vigilante !

[Roderick]

Many thanks Lemars,

I'm contacting someone to take the branches off - and maybe the top of the tree as they are right up there.

Glad to find out what they are, but not sure if they are all out of the tree yet.

Or if we are out of the woods yet!