Caterpillers

[ericrovve]

Unless the experts think differently I'm putting these down as Aporia crataegi larvae. Perhaps just emerging after hibernation? Any comments?

[goosey]

I think this is actually a moth larvae nest - perhaps of The Lackey- Malacosoma neustria.The larvae feed gregariously in their silk web, on Crataegus, blackthorn, and other trees and shrubs.

They over winter as eggs and are the larval stage from April -June and are in flight July and August.

Brilliant image Eric!

[ericrovve]

Thanks for your help, Goosey, but Lackey doesn't quite fit. Mine have a black head and no white middle stripe. They seemed to fit Aporia from photos on the web which I can't now seem to find. But going by photos there can be very deceptive with different lights, cameras etc.

[ericrovve]

Looking again, some maybe have a whitish stripe - anyway I've moved this to the unidentified gallery. The link follows it.

[goosey]

I still think its moth rather than butterfly larvae, several moth species have these larval tents. I can't say I have heard of butteflies having them but really I only experience Dutch/British lepidoptera and can't say for other places.
I used this site Eggs, Larvae, Pupae and Adult Butterflies and Moths , I can't take you to the page sorry so you will have to check out why I thought The Lackey- Malacosoma neustria. Perhaps I am grasping at straws but your image and the image here could just be different instars?