Pine processionary caterpillar colony (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) in silk nest on Monte Caccia
A group of pine processionary caterpillar larvae (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) moves on its silk nest on Monte Caccia, in the Apulian Alta Murgia. These caterpillars with their characteristic orange-brown color with dark bands and stinging bristles are the larvae of a moth of the Notodontidae family. The processionary owes its name to the peculiar habit of the larvae moving in single file, forming long processions. The white silk nest, woven on pine branches, serves as shelter for the colony during daylight hours. These insects represent a serious threat to Mediterranean pine forests, defoliating trees and weakening them. The stinging bristles of the larvae can cause severe allergic reactions in humans and domestic animals. The presence of the processionary on Monte Caccia testifies to the spread of this parasite in the wooded areas of Alta Murgia.
