Prickly before the worm turns everything into ... 'Egyptian mummy'

The Hyphantria worm cunea has the ability to thread into a network like a spider that can frighten many people.

Ordinary worms were not a cute animal for oranges. What about worms that integrate the ability of . spiders?

Let's find out Hyphantria cunea - a worm that can turn everything in their territory into . "Egyptian mummy".

"Spiderman" of the deep world

Picture 1 of Prickly before the worm turns everything into ... 'Egyptian mummy'
This worm is a moth larva.

In fact, Hyphantria cunea is the name of a moth of the Arctiidae family . The worm we are talking about here is the larva of this butterfly .

Picture 2 of Prickly before the worm turns everything into ... 'Egyptian mummy'
Tiger butterflies belong to the Arctiidae family.

Adult butterflies usually appear around May to July, then lay about 200-500 new eggs underneath the leaves of many large trees. Depending on the climate, maternal butterflies can breed from 1 to 4 different larval generations.

Picture 3 of Prickly before the worm turns everything into ... 'Egyptian mummy'
Depending on the climate, maternal butterflies can breed from 1 to 4 different larval generations.

The first generation of caterpillars laid out is small and not noticeable. However, from the second generation onwards, they are growing bigger and more dangerous. They are usually yellow or green, covered with a gray coat and colored stripes with black or red heads. Adult larvae can reach 2.5cm with the ability to release webs like spiders.

This worm not only "devastates" all the leaves of the region's trees but also " raises the net" , creating characteristic "nests" of late summer and fall. Can say they are like . "spiders" of the deep world.

Picture 4 of Prickly before the worm turns everything into ... 'Egyptian mummy'
Adult larvae can reach 2.5cm with the ability to release webs like spiders.

The terrifying conquest of the "mummy" worm

When hundreds of these eggs hatch into worm larvae, they will build their own "territory" together by meshing the net.

These networks act as a deep flood protection barrier to enemies outside, and the caterpillars will not leave their networks during adulthood.

Picture 5 of Prickly before the worm turns everything into ... 'Egyptian mummy'
This network acts as a curtain to protect the flood from outside enemies.

But only that is nothing worth mentioning. The problem is that Hyphantria caterpillars can expand their "territory" in a very frightening way.

Usually, Hyphantria cunea is not a pest because they only eat the leaves of trees in the fall - the deciduous season.

Picture 6 of Prickly before the worm turns everything into ... 'Egyptian mummy'
They turn everything around into "mummies" to expand the area.

However, they can invade so strongly that their "victims" are exhausted, unable to recover. And yet, if necessary they will turn everything around into "mummy" to expand the area.

Picture 7 of Prickly before the worm turns everything into ... 'Egyptian mummy'
A bicycle was covered by silk.

Initially this moth appeared only in the Americas, but due to the transport of human goods, they appeared and invaded both Europe and Asia.

Picture 8 of Prickly before the worm turns everything into ... 'Egyptian mummy'
At first this worm appeared in the Americas, after which it spread to Europe with Asia.

Even in Asia, due to the lack of natural enemies, their numbers have increased dramatically, becoming harmful pests in many countries including Vietnam.