Ermine moth caterpillar webs

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Alex White - Appletonwild

There are 8 types of ermine moths in the UK

I think this one is the Orchard Ermine, (Yponomeuta padella) because I saw it on Hawthorn and the larvae of the Orchard Ermine feed on blackthorn, hawthorn and cherry.

The moth’s larvae, which are about 2.5 cm long, make large communal webs for protection.

They  feast on the surrounding leaves.

This was the first time I’ve seen one of these webs, but now I’ve seen a few in the last couple of weeks.

This one was quite a small web compared with some webs that are reported in the news.

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About Alex White - Appletonwild

This is my diary of the wildlife where I live in Oxfordshire, and sometimes the places I visit. My passion is for British wildlife, especially Badgers and Hares. This year my debut book "Get Your Boots On" was published I am a keen amateur photographer. All the photographs on this blog are taken by myself unless stated otherwise. I am a member of A Focus on Nature, the network for Young Nature Conservationists, BBOWT, The Oxon Mammal group and The Oxfordshire Badger Group. You can also follow me on Twitter @Appletonwild Instagram appletonwild
This entry was posted in Animals, Blogging, Books, Environment, hedgerows, insects, Local patch, nature, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife photography and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to Ermine moth caterpillar webs

  1. bayphotosbydonna says:
    May 28, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    Incredible! Love your first photo, it’s a beautiful communal web shot!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Nature on the Edge says:
    May 27, 2019 at 2:42 pm

    Fascinating, they certainly make a statement for communal territories.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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