Tuesday 17 April 2007

Caterpillar migration!

The leader of the bunch The caterpillars 'migrated' down our driveway

The whole line of caterpillars was over 4 ft. long! Over the bump!

This is amazing! Just this morning we found a ball of about 30 hairy caterpillars sitting in a pile at the top end of our 25m driveway. When we came out later, the caterpillars had formed a line and were "migrating" in file down the driveway! Each one of them was following straight behind the one in front, and all together they made a single line of 29 caterpillars snaking down the driveway. Whenever there was a stick or rock in the way, the whole line would curve around it, each creature exactly following it's leader.

When we got out a tape measure, the entire length of the caterpillar-parade turned out to be a little over 4ft., about 130 cm. This is a sight I have certainly not seen before, nor do I expect to see it again. If anyone has any idea what type of caterpillar this is, maybe you could leave a comment with your idea. :-)

Update:
I have now identified the caterpillar: It is called the "Processionary Caterpillar", "Ochrogaster lunifer" in Latin, and is renowned for this behaviour of "processions".
More Information about the Processionary Caterpillar
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10 comments:

  1. Interesting! Cool site David. I'll have to stop by often, check out your shots, and learn some new stuff.

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  2. Glad you like my site. If you've got any thoughts on what could be better, I'm open to suggestions. I'm especially thinking of changing the template - anyone have any ideas?

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  3. Hi David,
    Thanks for submitting your site to the Bloggapedia Blog Directory!
    We love this post - great pics too!
    Thanks for the impromptu nature lesson and keep up the good work :)

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  4. At first I thought it was one big cuddly caterpillar. :)

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  5. It does look a bit like that from a distance!

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  6. Wonderful photographs, can I link this page to my blog please?

    Don't forget to mention that the caterpillars can cause a very bad allergic reaction.

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  7. Do you mean "Can I put a link to your blog on my site"? If so, certainly go ahead. Linking to other sites is what makes the blogosphere go 'round!

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  8. Awesome shots and interesting too!

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  9. Hi leeann,

    These are awsome creatures, it was great to get some close-ups of them. I hope you'll know more about them now, and keep on the lookout!

    Cheers,

    David

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  10. wow! how interesting! what a beautiful creature, and big and long too!

    Cheers,
    Anne

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