ID on Yellow and black caterpillar stripping Oak tree

[William Clifford]

Hi all,

 

Can anyone ID this caterpillar that's stripped this Oak branch?

 

There's a little more been eaten in another part of the tree, but three young trees around 15 years old all together in domestic garden and would like to know what it is, if it may spread or usually isolated to a couple of branches etc?

 

Thanks.

[se7enthdevil]

is that not the oak processionary moth??

 

i think that has to be reported to the authorities???

 

gas the little bleeders...

Edited September 9, 2020 by se7enthdevil

[Khriss]

@se7enthdevilI did think that but the pic is not close enuff,  hairspray will do it.  K

[William Clifford]

I'll take a closer one.. (not too close!!). I didn't think it was OPM from the colours but that's really why I'm asking. It's the first time I've seen it round here if it is. I've been familiar with it through Europe, but it was always grey / brownish / black.

 

I've looked for a link for sightings to see if there's been any local? We're in Nottingham, UK.

 

Bloody horrible things if it is..

[Paul in the woods]

You can zoom in on the photo but I can't find many good pictures of OPM caterpillar to compare them to. I would assume they are OPM until you can prove otherwise.

 

To me they look more like buff tip caterpillars, Phalera bucephala, and if you can look at their heads they should be black with an upside down yellow Y. Following link has a pic of the face.

 

Buff-tip

BUTTERFLY-CONSERVATION.ORG

---

When at rest, the wings are held almost vertically against the body with two buff areas at the front of the thorax and at the...

 

[William Clifford]

Two more pictures. They scooted off the first branch pretty quick and had to find them again pretty high up. The second picture is what they left behind - which has similarities of what I've seen from OPM before, but not the same as the big nests.

 

I'll check that link. Thanks.

[William Clifford]

That Buff Tip looks a lot more like it!

 

Serious for the tree if they are Buff Tips?

 

What do people think from the closer photo?

 

Thanks.

[Paul in the woods]

Until I see the yellow Y I cannot be sure but I would say buff tips.

 

I've had them on goat willow bushes in the garden a few times and they stripped sections of the plant very quickly (you can even hear them eat!) They also look like a large caterpillar considering the small size of the moth.

 

The goat willow had no lasting effects the next year.

[naturarbo]

isnt OPM kind of black/white?lucky those havent arrived here yet

[William Clifford]

Yes, they are grey / blackish, sometimes a little brown - of the ones I've seen. I pinged a photo to the FC just in case and they confirmed they were Buff Tips. I only had chance for a quick read about them when Paul suggested that that might be what they were - and didn't want to start handling them to look for the yellow Y without knowing if the hairs on these were irritant as well.

 

Thank you @Paul in the woods it was very helpful to have that info whilst we were on site ?