The silk webs phenomenon – some of the that may be found

One of the threatened that is found fairly widely in north Dorset is the Small Eggar whose beautiful larvae live in tents on hawthorn or blackthorn. The has a lovely subtle pattern and the larvae are beautiful and harmless.

Small Eggar larvae in web Small Eggar larvae Small Eggar moth Photo: Nigel Spring Photo: Nigel Spring Photo: Gill Nash

Another, more common moth with very attractive larvae is the Lackey

Lackey Moth larvae in web Lackey Moth larvae Lackey moth Photo: Tim Norriss Photo: Tim Norriss Photo: Gill Nash

The moth that attracts the most adverse publicity is the Brown-tail which produces highly allergenic hairs when disturbed either as an adult or as a and is best avoided.

The pupae are also protected by these hairs and the female moth even puts hairs on the eggs when she lays them. The moth live in tents on the various species of shrubs on which they feed. This is the only species of UK moth to hibernate as tiny larvae in a tough gossamer tent. The hairs can irritate the human skin and in some people can cause severe lung irritation. This species has been treated as a pest in certain areas, including the coastal strip of Dorset, and the webs are sprayed or burnt with flamethrowers. Unfortunately, misidentification can lead to the indiscriminate destruction of harmless species too.

Brown-tail moth larvae in web Brown-tail Moth Photo: Tim Norriss Photo: Gill Nash

At this time of year, many hedges, shrubs and trees are shrouded in gossamer silk produced as a protection by the larvae of several species of Small Ermine micromoths. Where Spindle is an abundant hedgerow plant, hundreds of metres of hedge can be covered and the hedge temporarily defoliated by thousands of larvae of the Spindle Ermine. A recent photo of a park in Yorkshire showed all the trees, railings, benches and lawns totally covered in the gossamer produced by the Bird Cherry Ermine.

Spindle Ermine larvae Small Ermine moth. Photo: John East Photo: Gill Nash

The Winter Moth is occasionally a pest of fruit trees and can produce the same kind of silk shrouding as the Small Ermines, as shown in these extraordinary photos from Hampshire.

Winter moth larvae Winter moth larvae Winter moth Photo: Tim Norriss Photo: Tim Norriss Photo: Gill Nash