#2995 · 🦋 butterflies & moths

Pine Processionary-moth

🇳🇱 Dennenprocessierups ·Thaumetopoea pityocampa

🦋 Butterflies & moths 📍 in Europe, not in NL

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © Benoît Segerer · CC BY-NC 4.0
2. © Paolo Mazzei · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. © SteveM4560 · CC BY 4.0
4. © marta-be-pe · CC BY-NC 4.0
5. © Hannes Öhm · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. © sallyhudson · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. Sidi Bou Said, Carthage, Tunisia:© Pengoline · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. inra villenave d'ornon:© no rights reserved · CC0
9. Magny-Cours:© Johann Franck · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
10. 83340 Le Cannet-des-Maures, France:© bscrl · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

The pine processionary ( Thaumetopoea pityocampa ) is a moth of the family Thaumetopoeidae. Sometimes placed in the genus Traumatocampa , it is one of the most destructive species to pines and cedars in Central Asia, North Africa and the countries of southern Europe. The urticating hairs of the caterpillar larvae cause harmful reactions in humans and other mammals. The species is notable for the behaviour of its caterpillars, which overwinter in tent-like nests high in pine trees, and...

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 14,897iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
14,897 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775 (251 years ago).