Brown-tail Moth Caterpillar Tent!
The hawthorn hedges at the Suffolk Punch Trust were covered in caterpillar tents and Brown-tail Moth caterpillars today!
The Brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) is found mostly in southern England and Wales, and along some coastal regions further north.
Brown-tail moth adults are active during July and August in the UK and will lay 150-250 eggs that are covered with brown hairs on suitable hosts. Caterpillars take about 3 weeks to hatch, after which they feed and form a dense silk nest during late summer/autumn protecting them over winter. Nests are spun between host twigs in a tent shape.
Caterpillars emerge in April and begin feeding, causing significant webbing and defoliation, until they pupate out of sight around late May. The caterpillars are black and hairy, with white marking down the lateral sides of the body and two distinctive orangey red ‘warts’ towards the tail-end on the back.
Although occasionally found on oaks (Quercus), Brown-tail moth larvae are much more common on hedgerow trees such as blackthorn (Prunus) and hawthorn (Crataegus) or on scrubby plants, especially bramble (Rubus).
Brown-tail Moth Caterpillar Tent!
The hawthorn hedges at the Suffolk Punch Trust were covered in caterpillar tents and Brown-tail Moth caterpillars today!
The Brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) is found mostly in southern England and Wales, and along some coastal regions further north.
Brown-tail moth adults are active during July and August in the UK and will lay 150-250 eggs that are covered with brown hairs on suitable hosts. Caterpillars take about 3 weeks to hatch, after which they feed and form a dense silk nest during late summer/autumn protecting them over winter. Nests are spun between host twigs in a tent shape.
Caterpillars emerge in April and begin feeding, causing significant webbing and defoliation, until they pupate out of sight around late May. The caterpillars are black and hairy, with white marking down the lateral sides of the body and two distinctive orangey red ‘warts’ towards the tail-end on the back.
Although occasionally found on oaks (Quercus), Brown-tail moth larvae are much more common on hedgerow trees such as blackthorn (Prunus) and hawthorn (Crataegus) or on scrubby plants, especially bramble (Rubus).