Brown-tail Moth Caterpillar!
A Brown-tail Moth Caterpillar busily devastating a hawthorn hedge in a garden nearby!
Brown-tail Moth Caterpillars live in groups based around communal "tents" which they use mainly for shelter from bad weather but also for hibernation in the winter.
They are voracious eaters of vegetation, especially in the spring, and although they have a preference for hawthorn, blackthorn, and bramble they will eat practically any type of tree or bush. The caterpillar releases irritant hairs into the air which cause skin irritation, and can impact some people quite severely, affecting their breathing.
They are mostly found around the coasts of southern and eastern England, although they are also increasingly found inland and further north, as far as Northumberland and occasionally southern Scotland. They live in areas of scrub, hedgerows, parks and gardens.
Brown-tail Moth Caterpillar!
A Brown-tail Moth Caterpillar busily devastating a hawthorn hedge in a garden nearby!
Brown-tail Moth Caterpillars live in groups based around communal "tents" which they use mainly for shelter from bad weather but also for hibernation in the winter.
They are voracious eaters of vegetation, especially in the spring, and although they have a preference for hawthorn, blackthorn, and bramble they will eat practically any type of tree or bush. The caterpillar releases irritant hairs into the air which cause skin irritation, and can impact some people quite severely, affecting their breathing.
They are mostly found around the coasts of southern and eastern England, although they are also increasingly found inland and further north, as far as Northumberland and occasionally southern Scotland. They live in areas of scrub, hedgerows, parks and gardens.