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822
822 Larvae of pine processionary moth (
Thaumetopoea
pityocampa
). (Ingaret Howells)
823
823
Larvae of pine processionary moth (
Thaumetopoea
pityocampa
) in procession. (Ingaret Howells)
throughout the winter. Larvae feed from bud burst
onwards, at first attacking the swelling and opening
buds, but later attacking the unfurling or unfurled
foliage. They are very gregarious and inhabit communal
retreats that, in their early stages consist of closely spun
leaves. Later, distinctive webs up to a metre in length
are formed on the trunk and larger branches of host
trees. Fully grown larvae usually pupate on the host tree
within the communal web, each in a yellowish or
reddish-brown cocoon.
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
30-40 mm wingspan; fore wings light grey with
darker, but indistinct, blackish-edged crossbands; hind
wings mainly white to greyish white.
Larva:
up to
40 mm long; body bluish grey below, coated in long
whitish hairs, and with numerous tufts of reddish-brown
hairs arising from reddish verrucae; the first to eighth
abdominal segments each marked with a velvet-black
patch dorsally; head brownish black.
LIFE HISTORY
Adults occur in July and August, eggs being laid in
batches on the bark of host trees. The eggs are then
coated with greyish scales from the female's body. They
are thus well camouflaged and remain hidden
DAMAGE
Larvae cause extensive defoliation; infested trees are
also disfigured by webbing.
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