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Home » Faculty Staff News » Dr. Joe Iacovazzi asks: Why did the caterpillar cross the road?

Dr. Joe Iacovazzi asks: Why did the caterpillar cross the road?

May 13, 2025

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 º£½ÇÖ±²¥app 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 º£½ÇÖ±²¥app’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.