The summer season is a month of great activity in the insect kingdom. The Hairy Moth Caterpillar can be seen clinging to plant stems, surrounded by fine silken threads in preparation for the process of moulting. It is interesting to note that this is a time of feeding for its time as a pupa.
Branches of bushes can be seen with large numbers of caterpillars feeding at a great rate, ensuring that they have enough to live on while they are enclosed inside a silken case waiting for the time when they emerge as Moths. This is indeed an interesting process of metamorphosis. These rather creepy bugs will emerge as beautiful Moths.
As you can see, the caterpillars have dense, long brown hair, a mottled head capsule, and small red spots along the sides of their bodies. These are common characteristics of caterpillars in the tussock moth family (Erebidae). The silken threads growing out of their bodies will be used to spin their cocoons.
The pupa of the Hairy Moth Caterpillars live inside quite tough cases made of a resilient silken material. These cases are often found stuck to stems of bushes quite high above the ground, probably to stay out of harm's way from predators. Earlier, when I used to visit the area, I would find empty cases and would wonder what they had once contained; now I know.
Precautions: One should avoid skin contact with these caterpillars, as it may cause skin irritation. I remember how my younger brother used to get inflamed eyes when huge caterpillars appeared around our home in Arbaminch, Ethiopia. It was not that he had deliberately touched the caterpillars; rather, it was because some of the hair might get airborne and land up in the eye! Washing your hands or skin that comes into contact with soap might help. Using topical ointments for the eyes might help. However, I have never spotted these caterpillars within the city, so one might never come into contact with them!
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