The Eastern tent caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum) forms communal nests between the branches of trees in Spring. Looking like a tangled spider nest, these nests are home to hundreds of caterpillars! They can be quite abundant here at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College, especially around wooded areas where cherry trees are found. They can even be poisonous to a predator because of the substances found in their host plants they eat.
So, if you see these caterpillars crawling around campus, take a step around them!
Learn more about ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½’s Wildlife Biology an Envrionmental Science programs, where nature is your classroom. Our 170-acre Woodlands Camupus features streams, meadows, and 7 sprawling miles of winding trails leading to the College’s Sugar Shack, suspension bridge, vernal pool, apiary and more.
