Thaumetopoea
| Thaumetopoea | |
|---|---|
| A Thaumetopoea species, pine processionary caterpillars | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Notodontidae |
| Subfamily: | Thaumetopoeinae |
| Genus: | Thaumetopoea Hübner, 1820 |
| Type species | |
| Phalaena processionea | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Thaumetopoea is a genus of moths belonging to the family Notodontidae. It was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1820.
In their caterpillar form, they bear the vernacular name of processionary because their gregarious larvae conspicuously move in single file. The adults live a few days without feeding.
Some Thaumetopoea species, for example Thaumetopoea pityocampa, are expanding their range towards higher latitudes and altitudes due to the current climate warming. The caterpillars carry urticating hairs which cause health problems in humans.