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Brown Tail Moth

Brown Tail Moth Caterpillars can be found in many trees and hedgerows. Larvae of this moth carry minute hairs which can cause serious skin and eye irritations if they come into contact with these areas. Large adult larvae may carry up to two million of these hairs.

They fee abundantly on the buds and young leaves of mainly rosaceous trees and shrubs, but will also attach other deciduous trees causing complete defoliation in a short period of time depending on the caterpillar density.

The Brown Tail Moth Caterpillar is blackish grey in colour with tufts of ginger brown hairs. The most noticeable feature is the two orange spots near the tail.

The moths lay 200-300 eggs on the leaves of trees and shrubs in late summer. Small caterpillars hatch and start to feed on the leaves. During this period the larvae construct a conspicuous white silken tent, which is usually found on an exposed branch of the food plant. From 50-2000 individuals overwinter in each tent. In spring the caterpillars emerge from their winter homes and disperse over the foliage. They feed on the leaves until they are approximately 1.5 inches (3.5 cm) in length. At the end of the summer they moult, pupate and emerge as adult moths.

Over the last few years the numbers of these moths has increased greatly specially in the southern parts of the U.K. They can defoliate large trees if they become established in large numbers. As said before they can also cause considerable irritations to the skin and eyes if touched, this may develop into a rash, if this becomes severe you should consult a doctor.

Control

The simplest way of controlling these caterpillars is to inspect your trees in the autumn and remove any tents that you find by pruning the twigs that they are on. The tents should preferably be burnt on site or place in a plastic bag and disposed of in your dustbins. Avoid disturbing the tents whilst removing them and ensure that you protect yourself by wearing gloves.

Should the caterpillars emerge before you are able to carry out the above procedure, advice can be sought from our Pest Control team, tel: 01304 872428 or e-mail: envhealth@dover.gov.uk

All pesticides used in the control treatment of insect pests are selective and applied to ensure public and animal safety.

Points to remember:

• To Prevent these moths spreading cut our tents in Autumn/Winter months
• When dealing with the caterpillars or tents always wear protective clothing
  

Contact Customer Services

Team Telephone: 01304 872428
E-mail: customerservices@dover.gov.uk

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