Plum caterpillar

Japanese: ウメケムシ

The larvae of Malacosoma neustria , a member of the Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae family. They are well known for attacking the leaves of cultivated plants of the Rosaceae family, such as cherry, peach, plum, and apple, in large numbers. In particular, when they attack plum trees, they often bald the tree, hence the name. Young larvae live in colonies and make nests by stretching threads between the branches, which resemble tents and are therefore also called tent caterpillars. When they reach the final stage, they leave the nest and disperse, eventually becoming pupae.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

鱗翅目カレハガ科のオビカレハ Malacosoma neustriaの幼虫。サクラ，モモ，ウメ，リンゴなど，バラ科栽培植物の葉を集団加害することでよく知られる。特にウメにつくと木を丸坊主にすることが多く，この名がある。若齢幼虫は群生し，枝の間に糸を張って巣をつくるが，それをテントに見立ててテンマクケムシ (天幕毛虫) tent caterpillarとも呼ぶ。終齢になると巣を出て分散し，やがて蛹となる。

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