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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 Keystone 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 Keystone’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.