Moth caterpillars

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Moth caterpillars
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jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 15 10:09 pm Post subject:
Thanks Falstaff

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45487
Location: yes

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 15 12:56 am Post subject:
nice ,

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15592

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 15 7:14 am Post subject:

We had a lot of trouble with brown tail moth near here a few years ago. They stripped most of the hawthorn in some areas. Luckily most survived, but was very sorry for itself for a few years.

Oak processionary moth is found mainly on oak trees. If you find it, look on the Forestry Commission web site as I think there is advice about who to contact about it. So far it is confined to London and surroundings, but any sightings elsewhere are beint taken very seriously, and they are trying to eradicate any small pockets.

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 15 1:36 pm Post subject:
It's not on oak. Dunno if I've got any better close-ups as it's still a bit breezy so it was wobbling about.

Falstaff

Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 15 3:51 pm Post subject:

Mistress Rose wrote:

Oak processionary moth is found mainly on oak trees. If you find it, look on the Forestry Commission web site as I think there is advice about who to contact about it. So far it is confined to London and surroundings, but any sightings elsewhere are beint taken very seriously, and they are trying to eradicate any small pockets.

I suppose - since that thing spins a web as well there'll be poor little lackey moths exterminated all over the countryin huge numbers by the Paranoids

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 15 5:16 pm Post subject:
Small Eggar Eriogaster lanestris. Apparently.

Falstaff

Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 15 8:57 pm Post subject:
Brilliant Is that the same nest Jamanda showed ? That used to be so rare when I was playing - that it wasn't even IN most books ! Not exactly a "commoner" nowadays even ! .....There are only eight previous records of adult Small Eggars in the Devon Moth Group database this century; sightings of the caterpillars which live in large silken nests on bushes and trees are more common. .....

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 15 9:01 pm Post subject:
Same nest. Quite chuffed that I got a decent pic really.

jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 15 11:11 pm Post subject:
I think Tav's photo is the lackey, but ours is the small egger. Should I be recording it somewhere Falstaff? I know little of moths!

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15592

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 15 5:48 am Post subject:
The Forestry Commission are dealing with identification and eradication of small pockets of oak processionary moth as far as I know, so they will be doing their ID carefully.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 15 8:19 am Post subject:

Jamanda wrote:

I think Tav's photo is the lackey

Having just taken a closer look at my photo I would agree.
Mine where defoliating a blackthorn & it looks very similar in your photo.
Does that fit with feeding habits of the Small Eggar?

Falstaff

Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 15 9:24 am Post subject:
We used to look for Lackeys on Blackthorn and found a few on hawthorn. Small Eggars (I had to look it up) seem to be similar, but a few other occasional foodplants are mentined. Jamanda - your local entomology society may be interested to hear of your find. If there is a National Database they will pass your report on. (or not depending on their efficiency )

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 15 3:09 pm Post subject:
have seen this on blackthorn about a quarter of a mile away, but not here.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 15 4:52 pm Post subject:
Not moths, a nettle dwelling butterfly caterpillar probably, but can anyone identify which one? They're quite small so probably quite young and yet to get their full colouration.

Falstaff

Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 15 7:07 pm Post subject:
The only one I know which does that is the small tortoiseshell - which is why they are so vulnerable to the modern need to "Tidy everything up" !

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