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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Eggs, Exuviae, Pupal Cases and Other Signs of Insects and Spiders > Eastern tent caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum), #7701
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20-MAY-2013 Christine Hanrahan

Eastern tent caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum), #7701

This triptych shows the tent caterpillar egg mass on the left, followed by the caterpillars in their web or 'tent', and the 'tent' itself, with a weight of frass (insect poop) at the very bottom. This was on a choke cherry tree. Black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoos find these caterpillars a treat, and in years when the tent caterpillars are high, so we see more cuckoos. This photo was taken in the Burnt Lands Provincial Park.

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
1/60s f/5.6 at 5.0mm iso200 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
Ann Pettigrew19-Jul-2013 01:31
Great series, Christine! Have you actually seen cuckoos feeding on the caterpillars? Would love to see that! V
Hank Vander Velde16-Jul-2013 00:21
Fantastic images and description Christine.
joseantonio15-Jul-2013 14:49
Fabulous images. thank you for the additional informtion.V
Fay Stout26-May-2013 00:36
Learning from you again... as always! Excellent triptych! V
Don21-May-2013 21:36
Fascinating; thanks for the info and photos. I've occasionally seen tents like this in Australia. Building tents like this must make them rather obvious to the cuckoos.
PS Love the name of the provincial park!
Karen Stuebing21-May-2013 21:14
Excellent triptych of these caterpillars that many see as a threat to their plants. That is a huge tent. V.
Ika Zinka Eferl21-May-2013 20:07
Nice work on capturing the details, amazing Christine!V
Graeme21-May-2013 17:22
wow how amazing, Christine. I love the places you visit that to the rest of us just don't know exist! V
J. Scott Coile21-May-2013 17:12
Boy can they EAT!
pascal21-May-2013 16:47
Magnifique tryptique !
globalgadabout21-May-2013 15:11
fascinating, and well-documented..too bad for the tree though when these hungry munchers start in on the leaves..
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