Catapillars

[H2oDunc]

Over the last few days the garden, and lately the house has been invaded by what seems like millions of small reddish catapillars. I have several trees in the garden that are covered in what looks like a very large spiders web and inside there are thousands of these things. There is on that is 25ft up a tree that must be over 2.5 metres long. It is full of the little blighters. The whole tree seems covered with them.Just what the hell laid such things ? Anybody know ? And what will they turn into ?

I have never seen anything like it and neither has the missus from Issan. Isn't nature a truly amazing thing at times. I will post some pictures of them later.

[samuijimmy]

There are many caterpillars around at the moment! ... It's high season for them

Not sure I have seen the one you describe, (we need that picture you promised.... don't fall out of your tree, getting the photo though!!!!!!) I have seen amny black & red stripped ones & also large (size of your little finger) green ones, munching away on leaves... more so after dark... We counted about a dozen on one plant!

The one pictured I took on new years eve, having a feast..... ! Also pictured with a larvae, which would be the second stage, before turning into a butterfly..... So, if you want butterflies flitting around the garden.... just leave them alone.... the plants may be defoliated but will soon leaf out again.... all part of the natural life cycle!

With a Issan wife, I'm surprised you've not seen the larvae turning up on your dinner plate..... ha ha!

Opps sorry double post!

Edited January 3, 2011 by samuijimmy

[PoorSucker]

That one is a Oleander Hawk-moth

[H2oDunc]

These are the little blighters. The house is covered with them. I'm curious to see what starts flying around shortly. I was told that it is the actual catapillars that make the web after hatching ?

[samuijimmy]

These are the little blighters. The house is covered with them. I'm curious to see what starts flying around shortly. I was told that it is the actual catapillars that make the web after hatching ?

Wow! that's a lot of them... I've seen these, but never in those numbers.... they only seem to defoliate certain plants from my experience ..... the plants always leaf out again....

Thanks, Poorsucker for the link to the Hawk moth, I've never seen the adult version.....quite an interesting creature! I guess being a moth, it would only fly at night! (?) ....I should get out more after dark!

[PoorSucker]

These are the little blighters. The house is covered with them. I'm curious to see what starts flying around shortly. I was told that it is the actual catapillars that make the web after hatching ?

Wow! that's a lot of them... I've seen these, but never in those numbers.... they only seem to defoliate certain plants from my experience ..... the plants always leaf out again....

Thanks, Poorsucker for the link to the Hawk moth, I've never seen the adult version.....quite an interesting creature! I guess being a moth, it would only fly at night! (?) ....I should get out more after dark!

Most moths are nocturnal but there are however exceptions.

Moths usually rest with their wings spread out to their sides.

Butterflies fold their wings above their backs.