amateur Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Walking the dogs today, I came across this solitary bush festooned with what appear to be spiders' webs. No other bush was afflicted. What is it, and why just the one bush? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 I think that is more likely a caterpillar of some sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOLDCREST Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 I've seen this before years ago...Cinnabar moth I believe.....Beautiful, bright red moths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted April 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 I'll look for caterpillars tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 candy floss bush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 (edited) I doubt it is Cinnabar, never seen them make webs like that. Seems very early in the year whatever caterpillar it is, too cold around here. Ermine moths most likely Edited April 28, 2017 by 39TDS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Probably an Ermine moth although there are one or two others which do the same. The web is designed to protect from birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
100milesaway Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Ermine moths, .from Auntie,. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 candy floss bush. Go nicely with the Milk Snakes mentioned in another thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me matt Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 I'm waiting for JDogs comment 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 I'm waiting for JDogs comment Don't derail the thread with your petty comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me matt Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 (edited) Don't derail the thread with your petty comments.😂 like it. Now - put the fella out of his misery and tell him- in your best latin- what it is. Edited April 28, 2017 by Me matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 like it. Now - put the fella out of his misery and tell him- in your best latin- what it is. OK I will enter into the spirit. The bush in question is not easy to identify. However it looks like Euonymus europaeus. If it is the cobweb will have been produced by Spindle Ermine y. Cognagella. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 (edited) There are several species of moths that make webs like that. The most likely on is the brown tail. Beware the hairs of the brown tail are a major irritant, do not handle then for any reason. Edited April 29, 2017 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 anser2 is absolutely correct about the irritation. Aged 5 yrs (1946) I picked a double handful of hairy caterpillars from the hedgerow in our lane and much to my mothers annoyance dropped them in the middle of the large farmhouse kitchen table. Five days later I had the most awful rash of blisters between my fingers which itched unbearably .. every spring since then I have had an outbreak of this rash, it has eased somewhat, but our family doctor at the time told me and my mother this would be the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 There are several species of moths that make webs like that. The most likly on is the brown tail. Beware the hairs of the brown tail are a major irritant, do not handle then for any reason. I'm with JDog on this. It's not the brown tail moth. I've just found some of their 'tents' in my hawthorn hedge today and have painstakingly removed and destroyed them. Nasty little blighters. Definitely Spindle Ermine Yponomeuta cagngella which as JDog points out attacks the spindle bush. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted April 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 I checked the bush earlier this evening. Heaving with little brown caterpillars, about 2cm x 1mm - didn't look anything like the Spindle Ermine Yponomeuta cagngella ones on Google images Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 (edited) Were they like this one? and these? Edited April 28, 2017 by TIGHTCHOKE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted April 29, 2017 Report Share Posted April 29, 2017 If they do turn out to be brown tail moth caterpillars as Tigttchoke's posted pictures then please don't touch them. They can cause a nasty rash and in severe cases depending upon vulnerability hospitalisation. There was a severe case of these in Kent about 3 or 4 years ago. My neighbour suffered from temporary paralysis in his arm after he picked one of the little beauties up to photograph it. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 29, 2017 Report Share Posted April 29, 2017 I checked the bush earlier this evening. Heaving with little brown caterpillars, about 2cm x 1mm - didn't look anything like the Spindle Ermine Yponomeuta cagngella ones on Google images In which case go and identify the shrub in question. Moths like these are food specific and once you have found out what the plant is it will be easy to find out which moth used it as a food source for it's offspring. If there are no leaves left on the plant this may be tricky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted April 29, 2017 Report Share Posted April 29, 2017 Be aware that some types of caterpillars go through several changes in apearance as they grow . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted April 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2017 In which case go and identify the shrub in question. Moths like these are food specific and once you have found out what the plant is it will be easy to find out which moth used it as a food source for it's offspring. If there are no leaves left on the plant this may be tricky. I got up close and personal to them this morning. No leaves left on the bush, but the caterpillars had changed somewhat overnight. So I think that you win this week's prize, Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted April 29, 2017 Report Share Posted April 29, 2017 Something else I've never seen looks impressive don't imagine many birds getting at them in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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