Winter moth caterpillars ..

Day 317 #365DaysWild

Nibbling away at blackthorn leaves are tiny green caterpillars.

One has begun to wrap itself in a leaf sleeping bag secured with gossamer strands.

They are in the what is called the first instar of their life, growing until they need to shed their skin and enter the next instar stage.

This continues until the caterpillars crawl down into the soil and finally emerge as adult butterflies or moths.

These caterpillars are those of the Winter Moth. The male moths flop about in the winter looking for flightless females. Having mated they lay eggs on broadleaved trees and shrubs.

The caterpillars are abundant and form a large part of the diet of birds feeding their young in spring.

An average brood of nine Great Tit chicks will consume 120,000 caterpillars while in the nest!