Strange phenomenon

If you can't stand caterpillars - run away now!

Was out for a walk and saw this amazing sight - a whole bush swathed in bands of white sticky web like stuff - and covered in caterpillars - thousands of them!

I have no idea what the bush is - but it was the only one affected in this way.

Saw this moth on a wall nearby - could she have really been responsible for all this ?

Re: Strange phenomenon

Close up of moth - looks like a Death Head Hawk.




Don't think they are her caterpillars though - they are too small - only about 1 inch long. They were very active as well - climbing all over that bush like an invading army.

Would love to know what they are - searched my 'Butterfly/Moth Book' to no avail.

Re: Strange phenomenon

The caterpillars look like those of the Spindle Ermine moth, and these do cause these webs, but the moth itself is different to yours.

Not my photo, Spindle ermine moth.



There are other culprits that an cause these type of webs, spiders and other moths.

Re: Strange phenomenon

There's another thread on here somewhere about the strange site you have seen.

Re: Strange phenomenon

Thanks Nom - that one is not even in my book !

Re: Strange phenomenon

There is one, Longdogs - but that was a different creature all together.

Re: Strange phenomenon

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...predators.html

Re: Strange phenomenon

Ah! apologies.

Re: Strange phenomenon

Nom - just looked at Spindle Ermines on Wiki - that is definitely the one - thank you for your help.

I guess it was just coincidental that the other moth was resting near by.

Isn't nature amazing??!!

Re: Strange phenomenon

Well blow me. I have just read something this very week in my gardening magazine about toxic caterpillars infesting gardens. Wonder if its the same as you found ST?

I'll quote a bit of the article for you, but I don't think I can reproduce the pictures to go with it. All the white webbing looks the same as your found though..

" A woman has been left trying to "rip her own arm off" after being stung by a toxic caterpillar - covered in two million spines. Dozens of residents have been left with chronic skin irritation after hundreds of thousands of brown tail moth caterpillars emerged in their gardens, each coated with millions of irritating spikes.
The pests are covered with barbed hairs which are capable of penetrating human skin.
Pest control experts have said the only way to take on these caterpillars is to burn affected areas of gardens.
Two trees have got to be cut down and incinerated so far, and there are 2,000 caterpillars in one cocoon. They are getting into houses as well.
These pests started arriving in Erith, S.E.London about 3 weeks ago."