A Train in the bush
In the bush it is quite the norm to see a number of trees, birds, and various species of wildlife; and every now and again you see a train! We had the privilege of seeing one of these convoys during a rather interesting afternoon game drive whilst we were well on our way to look for some giraffe. We had just seen a Common Duiker jump across the road and were trying to regain visual of the small antelope, when suddenly I could hear a call coming from the tracker seat in the front of the cruiser. "Watch out for the train…" Phanuel exclaimed as we came to an abrupt halt.
By now all the guests were peering out the side of the vehicle, and looking all around to see what on earth our tracker could be talking about. He looked back and grinned at all of us and then pointed down directly in front of the cruiser. I quickly repositioned the vehicle so that everyone on board could see what was being pointed out.
It was indeed a train... a train of processionary caterpillars! These fabulous little guys were ever so desperately trying to cross the road unharmed, in a long single-file trail following each other head to tail. We watched on curiously as they wobbled across and how they were able to "march in line" by keeping in touch with each other through contact with the caterpillar in front of them; they follow the leader.
These peculiar looking insects are actually extremely clever in forming these convoys as it is a unique way of deterring predatory animals; they look a lot larger when they are congregated like this and to some they may appear to be a kind of snake. The caterpillars are the larvae of the moth named Reticulate Bagnet (Anaphe reticulata) and while in the larvae stage these insects are known to be active during the autumn and winter months and have been seen feeding on the leaves of Wild Pear trees, as well as Horn-pod trees. When these caterpillars move from tree to tree, forming a train, they leave a small trail of silk and pheromones. The silk provides traction for their feet and the pheromones make it easier for them to follow the route and to assist the latecomers.
After their final meal these caterpillars will find a place to spin their silk purse communal cocoon, which is where they will then pupate to emerge as a medium sized moth that is creamy-white in colour, having brown markings on the wings. What an absolutely amazing phenomenon and better yet to witness the train in the bush crossing the road in front of us.
