Pine Processionary-moth

Thaumetopoea pityocampa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Notodontidae

Also called: Pine Processionary

Damages trees, gardens or crops. It damages pine trees and can cause severe skin reactions.

The pine processionary moth is a large, orange-brown, furry adult with blue bands and a crescent marking on its wings. Its larvae build silk tents in pine trees, march in nose-to-tail columns to feed on needles, and can defoliate coniferous forests. The caterpillars’ urticating hairs contain thaumetopoein and can cause severe rashes and eye irritation in people and other mammals.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

The adult moth is stout, furry and holds its wings like a tent over its body.

Source: Wikipedia

Is it a pest in the house?

The urticating hairs of the caterpillars can cause harmful or allergic reactions in humans and other mammals.

Source: Wikipedia

How to get rid of it

Biological control with Bacillus thuringiensis works on eggs and early-stage caterpillars in September or October. Insecticides such as diflubenzuron can be sprayed from aircraft, and oil-based insecticides can be inserted directly into nests. Mechanical removal of nests is another method that has been tried.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

Caterpillars live communally in large silk tents high in pine trees, sometimes also in cedar or larch.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Larvae march out at night in single file to feed on pine needles.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

Most individuals live one year, but some in high altitudes or northern areas may live over two years. After hatching, larvae pass through five instars, building winter nests of silk threads.

Source: Wikipedia

When you see it

In early April, caterpillars leave their nests to form the characteristic procession. They burrow underground to pupate and emerge as adults from mid-May to August.

Source: Wikipedia

Lookalikes

It is larger than the oak processionary and has a distinct crescent wing marking, unlike the pale eggar moth.

Source: Wikipedia

Status: introduced in North America. Source: iNaturalist

More photos

Pine Processionary-moth photo 2 — Photo: iNaturalist user, CC0

Pine Processionary-moth photo 3 — Photo: SteveM4560, CC BY

Pine Processionary-moth photo 4 — Photo: SteveM4560, CC BY

Pine Processionary-moth photo 5 — Photo: SteveM4560, CC BY

Questions people ask

How does the pine processionary damage trees?

The larvae feed on pine needles in large groups, causing defoliation of coniferous forests.

Source: Wikipedia

Can the caterpillars hurt people?

Their urticating hairs contain thaumetopoein and can cause severe skin rashes and eye irritation.

Source: Wikipedia

When are the caterpillars active?

They leave their winter nests in early April and pupate underground, emerging as adults from mid-May to August.

Source: Wikipedia

What control methods are used?

Biological control with Bacillus thuringiensis, insecticide sprays like diflubenzuron, oil injections into nests, and mechanical nest removal have all been tried.

Source: Wikipedia