Mysterious Caterpillar invasion

[firecrest]

I thought you might all like to see these photos I took about 2 years ago as I never did get a satisfactory answer as to what they were...

Somebody thought they were Puss Moth, somebody else said White ermine. Ive no idea, but the tree is very striking and Ive never seen such a thing before or since.

 

[Apac]

i dont know what ther are exactly but i remember been at primary school and seeing the exact same thing, i was amazed.. also never seen it since!

 

[Galemys]

Ermine moth is correct:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ermine_moth

I see this every summer at a few places nearby. The moth's caterpillars invade the same species of bush every year, carpet it in this beautiful shroud and strip of all the leaves. A few years ago it made the local newspaper saying that the "plague had to be destroyed", luckily an entomologist reacted and said it was perfectly normal. After the caterpillars have metamorphosized (sp?) the bush makes a new batch of leaves. The attractive looking moths are of a silky white colour with black dots, hence the name (in Dutch they are called 'stippelmot' -dotted moth-). I believe each ermine moth species is specialized in a specific type of bush.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[firecrest]

Cool. I wonder if the silk can be harvested for anything.

 

[Gray]

I know what this is, its called tinder lol