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Tales of a South Downs fox... and other ramblings

Caterpillar Tents

Monday, 28. September 2009, 23:08:52

,

I was out in the fields at lunchtime today. It was quiet, and apart from a few house martins and one uncooperative jay I saw little that made me reach for the camera. Little that is, until I noticed something odd on one of the hawthorn bushes on the boundary between two areas of grazing.


I've not seen these before, but they were oddly beautiful in the cool light.




Brown tail moth caterpillar tent

From what I've been able to discover this evening, they are caterpillar tents. Probably of the brown-tail moth caterpillar. The tents provide protection over winter, but the caterpillars are also known to be highly irritant (they are the ones that cause a plague of rashes over the summer months) and protective clothing is necessary for any attempts to remove them.

I may try to get some better shots, but taking obvious care now I know what I'm looking at.

On a slightly different note, here's a shot of a rabbit seen early this morning. A classic pose!

Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.

Bold Vixen updateMorning, noon, and night...

Comments

Robin 28. September 2009, 23:59

We have Tent Caterpillars across the country here. They are quite common. They feed off decidious trees, mostly poplar and such. I've seen huge masses of them, which become very destructive. The moths are described as being stout and brownish in colour. They are called Tent Caterpillar Moths. Go figure!

Darko 29. September 2009, 04:43

That rabbit is watching you :D

Adele 29. September 2009, 17:03

That's interesting - I didn't know we had caterpillar tents in the UK. I've seen them in the prairies.

Neil 29. September 2009, 19:56

Nice find. We had some of those on the hawthorn that covers most of wat tyler park - and I found a full grown caterpiller last week to boot.

Nice rabbit pic too

Words 29. September 2009, 20:59

Neil, they're interesting constructions. I'm still trying to get a definitive i.d. on the caterpillars themselves.

Words 29. September 2009, 21:37

Robin, I think these are becoming more common, but it's the first time I can recall seeing them (more down to my lack of observation in the past, than anything else). Love the name of yours!

Words 29. September 2009, 21:37

Darko, she sure is but she thinks I can't see her :wink:

Words 29. September 2009, 21:38

Adele, apparently these are quite widespread now. Lots of reports along the A27, and numerous councils now have information about them.

Words 29. September 2009, 21:39

Oh, and I'm 99.9% certain these are 'brown tail' moth caterpillars having had another look today.

Cynthia 29. September 2009, 23:11

OH! Not a good thing!! Words, here's a link with basic :smile: interesting info : http://www.brunswick.k12.me.us/haw/browntail/

Oh, yeah! wonderful bunny photo! :up:

Words 29. September 2009, 23:27

Thanks for that info Cynthia. We get occasional 'plagues' of them in summer. This nest is well away from people at least.

Mark Jones 30. September 2009, 18:56

Very interesting, i didnt know they were irritant, better not touch them then. P: Lovelly shot of the Rabbit :yes:

Words 30. September 2009, 23:14

Mark, definitely one to avoid touching. Not good to breath too close to them either. Well, I guess you have to breath (difficult not to). They are mainly a problem in spring/summer (those big hairy caterpillars that always make it into the newspapers.).

Bob Fisher 1. October 2009, 18:34

hey, i love this rabbit. Always run faster in the landscapes and always so curious. Beauty picture.

Greetings.

Words 1. October 2009, 19:52

Thanks Bob!

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