Content area
Full Text
Browntail and gypsy moth caterpillars can cause much damage to trees, but their risk to human health poses a bigger problem to local authorities.
The hairs borne by the caterpillars can, if touched, cause skin irritation. In the case of the browntail moth, skin rashes can be persistent. The hairs can be blown about on the wind and, in people who suffer from asthma or hay fever, can cause difficulty with breathing if inhaled. The hairs can even cause itching if they contaminate clothes drying on washing lines.
In the UK, browntail moth is the bigger pest of the two simply because outbreaks are more frequent. Although it is normally limited to the south and east coasts, it has sometimes been found as far north as Yorkshire.
Many local authorities offer gardeners advice and some will destroy caterpillar nests as a free service.
Gypsy moth poses the more significant threat to trees. In the US, it is considered to be one of the worst forest pests, responsible for extensive defoliation. The best that can be hoped for there is to slow down the spread of the pest into new territory. There have also been major outbreaks on the Continent.
Gypsy moth was wiped out from the UK early last century and is now considered an alien pest. It is only occasionally found in the UK, but the Forestry Commission believes it might become more widespread with climate change. There was an outbreak near Epping Forest, London, in 1995 and the area continues to be monitored.
HOW TO RECOGNISE THEM
Browntail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea)
* Caterpillar: Dark brown in colour with a dotted white line along each side and covered with tufts of yellow-brown, barbed...