Large Male Caterpillars Are the Primary Builders: Exploring Tent Construction and Foraging Behaviour in Gregarious Pine Processionary Caterpillar.

ABSTRACT: As a social organism, living in a communal structure is one of the most important physical barriers against environmental elements and natural enemies. Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Notodontidae, Thaumetopoeinae) caterpillars are conifer pests that spend most of their larval stage in winter. Although T. pityocampa holds economic and medical significance, the tent construction and foraging behaviour are poorly understood. We observed the tent construction behaviour in autumn (October and November) when third- and fourth-instar T. pityocampa caterpillars build the 'winter tent' that can withstand winter conditions. Just before sunset, with no rain and temperatures over 12 °C, tent construction was undertaken by early active individuals, primarily larger male caterpillars. Ear

SUBMITTER: Uemura M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10607817 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature