Midsummer Beauty, Pt. 2 - _TNY_9372
When this beautiful moth caterpillar grows up, it will become a small eggar (Eriogaster lanestris).
This one was hanging out in the branches of a tree next to where we were celebrtating Midsummer Eve near the "Naturum" information center in Tyresta National Park.
These are quite interesting in that thecaterpillars live together (up to several hundreds) in a colony made from silk which they leave three to six times per day to feed.
After reaching the final instar they leave it to live alone.
After that they pupate and stay inside the pupae for typically two winters, but sometimes up to seven. The longest known pupation took fourteen years before emerging!
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/48358963212/
Midsummer Beauty, Pt. 2 - _TNY_9372
When this beautiful moth caterpillar grows up, it will become a small eggar (Eriogaster lanestris).
This one was hanging out in the branches of a tree next to where we were celebrtating Midsummer Eve near the "Naturum" information center in Tyresta National Park.
These are quite interesting in that thecaterpillars live together (up to several hundreds) in a colony made from silk which they leave three to six times per day to feed.
After reaching the final instar they leave it to live alone.
After that they pupate and stay inside the pupae for typically two winters, but sometimes up to seven. The longest known pupation took fourteen years before emerging!
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/48358963212/