OPM and other hairy caterpillars

[Russell Miller]

This little beauty gave me a bit of a fright as I coughed on dust whilst removing ivy from the base of a oak.

It took me a while to recognise that, although very hairy, this is Gypsy moth not Oak Processionary moth. Quite common in London now but not yet established at pest proportions. Even London is still to cold for it to proliferate on a scale that would cause defoliation problems.

[David Humphries]

12 minutes ago, Russell Miller said:

 

This little beauty gave me a bit of a fright as I coughed on dust whilst removing ivy from the base of a oak.

It took me a while to recognise that, although very hairy, this is Gypsy moth not Oak Processionary moth. Quite common in London now but not yet established at pest proportions. Even London is still to cold for it to proliferate on a scale that would cause defoliation problems.

 

 

fairly uncommon to find OPM by themselves.

 

They like company.....