A nest of the Pine Processionary Caterpillar.
Pine Caterpillars live in the warmer regions of Southern Europe, the Near East and North Africa.
A number of caterpillars live in this cocoon type nest and cause much damage to pine trees by stripping them of their needles.
Their very severely irritating fine hairs are poisonous and dangerous to both animals and humans causing great irritation, rash and pain and are still toxic even when the caterpillar is dead.
They get their name ‘processionary’ from when the move in a line from one tree to another to feed.