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Ermine moths, caterpillars and trees, Shipley Fields Road, Frizinghall.

On 16th May 2011 the Telegraph & Argus printed a (larger than life) photograph of part of a tree covered with caterpillars which were eating all the leaves down. There was an article and comments by the council etc. 

We had been called to look at the strange sight of over 11 trees which were not only stripped of their leaves completely, but had silk covering the bark. 

There were webs all over the ground and on the railings of this small area of parkland (including a playing area for children). 

This area of parkland, a short distance down Shipley Fields Road (off the main Manningham Road to Bradford), consists of grassland, trees and playground. Most of the trees are cherry and it was these that were consumed by hundreds of little caterpillars- I should say thousands - it was so spectacular.Once the locals and children realised there was no harm in the 'show' that was taking place, they were curious and (particularly the children) wanted to know more about what was happening. The trees were mentioned on Look North. On about 18th May I was telephoned by a radio journalist for Radio 4 for the 1 o'clock news. He was on his way to the trees while he was talking to me. As I had not yet seen them, I couldn't say much, but directed him to a 'moth man' in my Butterfly Conservation Committee.

I finally visited the site on May 27th and 28th, I was astonished at what I saw. Up to 12 trees looked as if they were covered in frost as in the middle of winter! The tree were covered in silk (and also the branches) and full of pupas (cocoons)!These moths are small ermines, micro moths, and it appears that that they were probably Bird Cherry Ermine Moths. 

On Friday 16th June I paid a visit to the site, and thanks to some children who were happy to look for moths, I succeeded in photographing one or two moths (very small) which had only just emerged on the trunks. The moth when enlarged looks like an aeroplane with windows, white with black spots.

The trees were already producing more green leaves. (It is not in the interests of the moths to damage the trees on which their larvae fed.) Obviously an awful lot of eggs have been laid by many moths and the very warm, dry conditions we experienced in spring were influential in the survival of so many eggs and larvae. Clearly this was a one off appearance not normally seen with such a large display.

Update 29th April 2012                                                                                            

The trees have made a complete recovery. No difference can be detected between trees which were affected last year and those which were not.      

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