Thaumetopoea
Genus of moths / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thaumetopoea is a genus of moths belonging to the family Notodontidae. It was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1820.
Quick Facts Thaumetopoea, Scientific classification ...
Thaumetopoea | |
---|---|
A Thaumetopoea species, pine processionary caterpillars | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
Family: | Notodontidae |
Subfamily: | Thaumetopoeinae |
Genus: | Thaumetopoea Hübner, 1820 |
Type species | |
Phalaena processionea[1] | |
Synonyms | |
|
Close
In their caterpillar form, they bear the vernacular name of processionary because their gregarious larvae conspicuously move in single file. The adults live a few days without feeding.
Some Thaumetopoea species, for example Thaumetopoea pityocampa, are expanding their range towards higher latitudes and altitudes due to the current climate warming.[2] The caterpillars carry urticating hairs which cause health problems in humans.[3]