Unidentified hairy caterpillar

loripo · #1 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 05:24 PM

Was asked by a small girl in our local park about this. We have Commas, speckled woods and mint moths, and recently Painted ladies but dont think its one of these. Can you help?

charlieb · #2 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 06:52 PM

It's a Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar - whereabouts was it found?

loripo · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2009, 09:31 AM

Thanks charlieb - It was in Battersea Park, SW London. Will have to have another look round!

charlieb · #4 (**permalink**) 09-06-2009, 05:12 PM

I only asked because the Gypsy Moth has been extinct in Britain since the 1900 - although somehow there are now small numbers breeding in London.

DEFRA ask that people contact them with details of findings (they are considered a pest because they cause large scale defoliation and have irritaing hairs) - I presume numbers, location, whether adult or caterpillar.

I'll PM the details.