These are tent caterpillars. This is the time of year when you see them, and this year they’re everywhere. Our mild winter means that more of them survived to do whatever tent caterpillars do to multiply. After they emerge from their cocoon-like “tents,” these little critters work their way down branches, eating their way through the fresh, tasty leaves. The guys you’re looking at here are about 3/4 of an inch long. They’re getting ready to defoliate some wild roses.
Goodness there’s a lot of them. Do they turn into a pretty butterfly?
I can’t believe we both picked the same subject for today’s posting. The only difference is that your photo is much better than mine. You can see my photo here. http://occupiedwithphotography.blogspot.ca/2013/05/caterpillars.html
I haven’t seen this many times. What a fantastic find, Kay. Nature is amazing!
exactly what i thought when i saw this. ewwwww!
@Mo, as best I can tell they turn into a moth – one that lives very briefly, only long enough to mate and lay more eggs for more tent caterpillars.
Oh boy, does this photo conjure up memories. Back in the early 70’s we lived in Mesquite, Texas (Dallas suburb). We had some bushes in the front of the house in which tent worms set up shop every year. They’d destroy the bushes in no time if you didn’t pick them off one by one and destroy them. I’d insist our two daughters help picking off the tent worms. They hated it. Every once in a while I still hear about how terrible I was as a father because I made them do such a nasty job. I still laugh when I think about it!