They're back........

[Cally]

Please beware if you take your dogs for a walk around the Gecikoy reservoir; the pine trees are infested with nests and all along the paths there are piles like this!




https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5B0D0E3D

If Keith is passing I'm sure he can put the pic on, no matter how I try.......

[Navek]

Pine Processionary Caterpillar

More...
https://www.google.com.cy/search?q=pine ... 33&dpr=1.5

[Groucho]

Please beware if you take your dogs for a walk around the Gecikoy reservoir; the pine trees are infested with nests and all along the paths there are piles like this!




https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5B0D0E3D

If Keith is passing I'm sure he can put the pic on, no matter how I try.......

I posted this on an earlier thread:- http://www.kibkomnorthcyprusforum.com/v ... ilit=+moth

Don't demonise all caterpillars....

[Cally]

The link Groucho is dated March '15

I was posting this from facebook to warn dog owners that these caterpillars are about a little earlier than usual. A friend nearly lost her dog to them.

I have no idea how that is demonising caterpillars............

[Groucho]

The link Groucho is dated March '15

I was posting this from facebook to warn dog owners that these caterpillars are about a little earlier than usual. A friend nearly lost her dog to them.

I have no idea how that is demonising caterpillars............

The point I am trying to make is the caterpillars assembled in a writhing mass on the ground are almost definitely not pine processionary caterpillars. The pine processionary caterpillars process down the tree from the nest after feeding on the fresh buds and do not then re-gather into a group as that would be counter to the species survival.

[judyvin]

Groucho I beg to differ on this one. I was the one that posted this yesterday having spotted piles of these caterpillars everywhere whilst walking around the reservoir. This area is full of pine trees and the further you walk away from the entrance you see that the trees are all infested, many dead. There were thousands and thousands of nests and you can see the caterpillars crawling over them. These were the same as the ones on the ground.

[Cally]

Thank you Judyvin, I was just trying to bring awareness for dog walkers.......

[£eagle]

If you find a heap of dark brown, almost black, furry caterpillars well away from pine trees they are most likely to be "Web Building Teddy Bears" or the Ocnogyna loewii moth caterpillar. As they feed on a variety of weeds they are unlikely to be found in pine woods. They are said to be harmless.

Wiggly things near pines are to be avoided.
It's a pity that all the birds that feed on the processionary caterpillar have been shot.

[frontalman]

Yes, there are many of these nests of caterpillars around nowhere near pine trees. I would hate to think people are stomping on them for no good reason. Our dogs completely ignore them and I believe they are harmless.

[jofra]

...And now there are concerns about the "Oak" variety in the UK - here.....