The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-26
Professionally Caterpillars.

The last number of Hardwicke's
Science Gossip contains an account of
some observations of species of Process
sionarv Moth which inhabits the southern
part of Europe. The notes refer to the
larv@ or caterpillars of the moth, which
are social in their habits, dwelling to-
gether in colonies III nests constructed in
the branches of trees. The writer says:
"While out for walk, the other day,
we came across curious incident in Nat
ural History. At Cape Martin, about two
miles from Mentone, our attention was at
tracted by something by the roadside
which looked, at a little distance, like a
long, thin serpent. At first we thought
best not to 60 very near, but curiosity pre-
vailed, and, upon closer inspection, we
found it was very long line, consisting
OF ninety-nine caterpillars, crawling in
single file close after one another. Our
curiosity led us to remove one from the
middle a little distance from the others,
and we found his place soon filled up; but
he crawled back to them, and edged his
way into the line again. Then we re-
moved the leader; this brought them for
time TO a stand-still. After little while
they began to move on, and then we put
the original leader in his proper place, but
this brought them again to standstill !;
and, from the way they moved their heads
from side to side, great deal of talking
seemed to be going on, and they decided
their original leader was not fit to lead,
and they chose another, while he had to
make his way into the line lower down.
A little further on we saw another line of
forty -four coming up in the opposite
direction, and we were curious to see
what would happen when they met, i'm
agining they might perhaps have a fight;
but such was not the case; they Joined the
Others by degrees, and so made much
longer line, and marched on" e.rs-
The eggs from which are Matched the
caterpillars of the Professionally Moth
(CneethocGnspus processionea) are laid prin-
cipally upon the oak. As soon as the in
sects leave the shell, they begin to weave
silken nest, which they inhabit in COM
mon. This nest is, according to the
author of a little work on " 1nsect-Archi-
lecture, ;" nearly two feet long and from
four to six inches in diameter. 81; ,--T
cit is not divided into chambers, but
consists of one large hall, so that it is not
necessary that there should be more Open
ings than one; and accordingly, when an
individual goes out and carpets path,
the whole colony instinctively follow in
the same track. though, from the i'm
mense population, they are often conn.,
PEELED to march in parallel files from two
to six. deep. i The procession is always
headed by q single caterpillar; sometimes
the leader is Immediately followed by one
or two in single file, and sometimes by two,
abreast. A similar procedure is followed
by species of social caterpillar which
feed ON the pine in Savoy and Languedoc,
and their nests are not half the size of the
preceding; they are more worthy of no.
tice from the strong and excellent quality
of their silk, which Reaumur wasof opin-
ion might be advantageously manufac-
tured. Their nests consist Of more cham
hers than one, but are furnished with q
main entrance, through which. the colo
nists conduct their foraging expedi tions. ;, ;,
il When the caterpillars leave the rest In
search of food, they spin guide. lines, as
many other species do, and these serve to
direct them on their return, and Also en-
able the procession to follow their lead
81. The writer from whom we las; quot
III further states :sn zssk " VI "
sIiss It is remarkable that, however far
Ffhey nav ramble from their nest, they.
never fail to find their way back when q
shower or rain Or 'nightfall renders shell
ter necessary IT. requires no great
shrewdness to discover fTUW they effect
ads,' for, by looking closely s* their track,