Spindle Ermine Moth

[Suninfrance]

It's that time of year again, when my Spindle Tree is full of "webs".  These are the protective webs that contain the eggs and larvae for the moth.

[IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/SpindleErmineMonthWeb.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/SpindleErmneMothEggs.jpg[/IMG]

Then a couple of days later, along come the caterpillars

[IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/SpindleErmineMothCaterpillars.jpg[/IMG]

All inside their protective web.

Eventually the caterpillars will vacate the tree by means of a strand of silk from branch to ground making the tree look like it has guy ropes on it.

.......... and then, the moth arrives:

[IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/SpindleErmineMoth.jpg[/IMG]