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Ground lackey caterpillar on meadowsweet

 

 

Some days ago quite many of the colourful caterpillars of the ground lackey (Malacosoma castrense) were noticed. The caterpillars head for pupation; the cocoon is as a rule spun at the plant that they feed on.

 

The caterpillars of the Lasiocampidae, also known as eggars or snout moths, are mostly all chubby, hairy and comparatively colourful. In June-July butterflies develop in the cocoon; they start a new life cycle. The imagos don’t eat.