PESTS IN FLATS

As summer fades into a somewhat brief and distant memory and autumn arrives, it’s time to check gardens for Brown Tail Moth caterpillars (Euproctis chrysorrhoea). These caterpillars can be harmful both to humans and to trees. The caterpillars you are hunting for are about an inch long and have two red spots on their back. The moths themselves are white with a brown body and the female has a brown hairy tail. The caterpillars are covered in brown, barbed hairs, which, although not actually poisonous, can cause allergic reactions in the form of painful, itchy rash; this will normally last two to three days. During this time the skin will be very irritable and scratching will worsen the condition. Reactions can occur without direct contact with the caterpillars as hairs can be carried by wind and become lodged in the skin. The minute hairs might also cause respiratory problems particularly in those with existing conditions, such as asthma. The caterpillars cause damage to trees and shrubs when they emerge in summer. It doesn’t take long for these menaces to cause some serious harm to your garden. Around the month of July, adult moths mate and females lay eggs covered in small brown hairs. These are often laid on the leaves on hawthorn bushes, although other bushes and trees can also be affected. In late summer (August/September), the eggs hatch into caterpillars. The caterpillars feed on leaves turning them brown. Autumn/winter sees the caterpillars weave a web-like structure (tent) in a bush or tree, in which they hibernate, this is the best time for control measures to take place as the tents are easy to spot because most trees have shed their leaves for winter. Caterpillars emerge from hibernation in the spring and between June and July, the caterpillars turn into black chrysalis before emerging as adult moths. In a period of sparse plant foliage, tents can be identified then cut out from the trees/bushes and burnt.

DAVID CHANNON IS a DIRECTOR OF MICROBEE