Mass of pine processionary caterpillar larvae on spontaneous vegetation in Alta Murgia
A dense colony of pine processionary caterpillar larvae (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) covers the spontaneous vegetation on Monte Caccia. Dozens of caterpillars with orange-brown striped bodies mass on the branches, wrapped in the characteristic silky web they produce for protection. The bristles covering the larvae body contain a stinging protein (thaumetopoein) that can cause severe dermatitis and allergic reactions. This image documents a phase in the life of the moth when the larvae, after abandoning the winter nest on the pines, move in search of new food. The Mediterranean vegetation of Alta Murgia temporarily hosts these insects during their migration to the ground, where they will burrow to complete metamorphosis. The massive presence of processionary indicates an environment where the parasite has found favorable conditions for proliferation.
