Yech!!! I'm not sure I could've watched all that!

I had one nest of tent caterpillars on my ornamental cherry last year, and
played the hose on the nest for several minutes, when the caterpillars were
in it, until it was thoroughly drenched. Guess they drowned as there was no
further activity and they haven't been there since.

Christine Giannini
Everett, WA
nightbird7 at seanet.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Smith, Darrell" <Darrell.Smith at co.snohomish.wa.us>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 3:50 PM
Subject: RE:tent caterpillars- who eats 'em?


> Over the years, I've watched our amazingly adaptable european starling eat
tent caterpillars on two different occasions in two different locations at
different times. Both times, the birds held what appeared to be the
posterior end of the caterpillar with their pointed beaks and shook the
insect vigorously from side to side till the fuzzy integument, the
caterpillar's "wrapper," started coming off. They then pulled 'em out of
their skin and gulped 'em down. It looked like a fair amount of work,
though. It took almost a minute for the whole operation from beginning to
end. Actually made me kinda hungry.
>
> I'm sure that the woolly spinelets that make up the fuzz on the outside
are great protection for the caterpillars, and some seem to be deciduous.
Also, the webbing that protects the tent caterpillars has to be a very tough
barrier when you consider how truly lightweight are our passerines. Adult
starlings are only about 3 ounces.
>
> Darrell Smith
> Principal Habitat Biologist
> Surface Water Management Division
> Snohomish County Dept. of Public Works
> 2731 Wetmore, Suite 300
> Everett, WA 98201-3581
> 425.388.6497
> mailto:darrell.smith at co.snohomish.wa.us
>
>