Forest Research poster. Otherwise, OPM caterpillars have the following distinguishing characteristics. They have a distinctive habit of moving about in late spring and early summer in nose-to-tail processions, from which they derive their name. The processions are often arrow-headed, with one leader and subsequent rows of several caterpillars abreast. They live and feed almost exclusively on oak trees.
They can sometimes be seen processing across the ground between oak trees. They will usually only affect other broad-leaved tree species if they run short of oak leaves to eat - they have been observed feeding on sweet chestnut, hazel, beech, birch and hornbeam. However, they generally cannot complete their development on other tree species.
They cluster together while they are feeding on oak leaves and moving from place to place. They are only seen in mid- to late spring and early summer May, June and July. They have very long, white hairs which contrast markedly with the much shorter, almost undetectable, irritating hairs.
They have a grey body and dark head. Older larvae have a central dark stripe with paler lines down each side. They are not usually found on fences, walls and similar structures, such as garden furniture — these tend to be other, similar-looking caterpillars. There are no known UK populations of pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa , which is a closely related species which lives on pine trees.
Nests: are built in early summer; are made on the trunks and branches pictured of oak trees; are almost never made among the leaves of oak trees, on any other tree or shrub species, on fences, walls and similar structures.
Such nests are usually made by harmless species, and need not be reported; are made of distinctive, white, silken webbing, and are accompanied by white, silken trails on the trunks and branches of oak trees; become discoloured after a short time, and more difficult to see as a result, as do the silken trails; occur in a range of shapes, including hemispherical half a ball , tear-drop shaped, hammock-like, and like a blanket stretched around part of an oak trunk or branch; range in size from a few centimetres wide to stretching several feet across; can occur anywhere from ground level to high in the oak tree; can fall out of oak trees and be found on the ground; and can remain attached to the trees for many months, after the larvae have pupated and the adult moths have emerged.
Several nests can occur on the same tree or branch. More pictures of nests Moths OPM moths the adult form of the species are undistinctive brown moths which are difficult to accurately identify because they are similar to a number of species. Owners and managers of oak trees in the affected areas should also familiarise themselves with the ways in which they can: fulfil their duty of care to other people and animals; comply with the regulations governing OPM control and the movement of oak plants; and comply with the regulations governing the handling and movement of oak material arising from felling, forestry operations and tree surgery.
Health precautions do not touch or approach OPM nests or caterpillars; do not let children or animals touch or approach nests or caterpillars; do not try removing nests or caterpillars yourself; and avoid or minimise time spent under or downwind of infested oak trees, especially on windy days in summer.
Do: teach children not to touch or approach the nests or caterpillars; train or restrain pets from touching or approaching them; keep horses and livestock a safe distance from infested oak trees — cordoning off infested trees, covering and stabling can help; see a pharmacist for relief from skin or eye irritations after suspected OPM contact; call NHS or see a doctor if you think you or someone in your care has had a serious allergic reaction - tell the doctor you suspect OPM contact; consult a veterinary surgeon if you think your pet or livestock has been seriously affected - tell the vet you suspect OPM contact; call in an arborist or pest control expert with relevant expertise to remove infestations in your own trees.
Your local council, the British Pest Control Association or the Forestry Commission can provide a list of suitable operators in your area; and if you work on or near oak trees in the affected areas, for example, as a tree surgeon or forestry, landscaping or ground-care worker, wear full protective clothing.
Report a sighting Public, and tree, park, garden and ground-care professionals If you suspect you have found an OPM nest or caterpillars anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales, please report it to us immediately via TreeAlert.
Most oak species are fairly easy to identify by their distinctive leaves and bark; and the caterpillars are oak processionary moth caterpillars and not those of another species. If you cannot use TreeAlert, you may report a sighting by: email to opm forestrycommission.
If reporting sightings by email or phone, please include: a precise location of the tree s - a digit Ordnance Survey grid reference is ideal, e. Treatment and nest removal Picture: H. Kuppen To be most effective, tasks such as insecticide spraying pictured and nest removal should be carefully timed and carried out by professionals with appropriate training and equipment.
Official action Government action and support for affected landowners depends on which of the three OPM management zones the affected trees are in. The programme includes: surveying oaks in spring and summer for signs of caterpillars, nests and other evidence, such as silk trails; carefully controlled treatment of affected trees with an approved insecticide or bio-pesticide in spring to kill the caterpillars soon after they emerge.
This tends to take place about mid-April, with some flexibility each side. Do caterpillars drink water? Caterpillars do not drink water. They normally obtain sufficient fluids from the food plants that they eat. If you are rearing some species, such as tiger moth caterpillars , it is good to add a few drops of moisture to keep them from drying out too much.
Caterpillars , although not a traditional pet , can still be an interesting creature to care for. Most caterpillars are easy to catch and can be kept in a simple cage. One of the interesting parts about keeping a caterpillar as a pet is watching it transform into a butterfly. Caterpillars that are brightly colored, have spines or hairs are probably venomous and should not be touched.
Lightly mist the container periodically to elevate the humidity slightly. Keep a close watch on your eggs! Before the eggs hatch, you must determine what host plants they will eat and locate a convenient source of that host plant.
The caterpillars will hatch in as few as three days. To keep the caterpillar's food plant fresh, place the stems in a small jar of water. Fill any space between the stems and the lip of the jar with wadded paper towels or cotton balls to prevent your caterpillar from falling into the water and drowning. Put the jar with the food plant into the caterpillar jar. Insecticides for Oak Trees Permethrin. Use permethrin on oak trees to control the ambrosia beetle, aphids, bagworms and other pests.
Use imidacloprid on oaks to control the flat-headed apple tree borer and other sucking insects. Evidence of natural enemy activity includes dead pupae or eggs with holes from which parasites emerged, oakworms or unhatched eggs that are discolored or darker than normal indicating they may contain parasites, or hatched caterpillar eggs with no evidence of caterpillars or damage. If you have an increasing number of pests but also many natural enemies, wait a few days before using insecticides.
Monitor again to determine whether pest populations have declined or if natural enemies are increasing to levels that soon may cause pest numbers to decline. Frass collection is another monitoring tool. The oakworm caterpillar excretes characteristic droppings , called frass, that fall to the ground beneath the tree. As the caterpillars grow, their dark fecal pellets increase in size.
Greater numbers of pellets are produced either from an increased number of oakworms or from increased temperatures, which cause caterpillars to feed faster. Oakworm frass pellets are typically dark brown with a highly sculptured surface and may be observed lodged in bark crevices, spider webs, and ground cover plants beneath infested oaks.
To monitor, place 3 to 5 light-colored sticky cards, shallow trays, or cups beneath the canopy at regular intervals, such as a hour period each week.
Place these frass traps when no rain or sprinkler irrigation and little wind are expected. Save the frass or record its volume to compare with the amount collected on other sampling dates or from other oaks. Initially you may want to conduct both frass monitoring and foliage inspection. This provides a record of the proportion of leaves eaten or the number of oakworms present and the corresponding density or volume of frass.
With experience, frass monitoring alone may estimate caterpillar density and damage and aid in deciding if control is needed. Frass monitoring also helps to estimate the relative age of most oakworms by comparing frass pellet size. Certain insecticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis Bt are most effective against younger caterpillars, when smaller frass pellets predominate.
Several pesticides of low toxicity to people and natural enemies are available to control oakworms. IPM-compatible pesticides include microbials, botanicals, and insect growth regulators. Although some are available to both homeowners and professional applicators Table 2 , most homeowners lack the equipment and experience to effectively treat large trees.
When hiring a professional applicator, discuss the specific pesticide to be applied and insist on using an IPM-compatible one. Avoid using broad-spectrum insecticides such as carbamates carbaryl , organophosphates acephate and malathion , or pyrethroids fluvalinate and permethrin , because these materials kill both pests and beneficials and may induce outbreaks of spider mites or pest insects.
IPM-compatible pesticides provide good control of target pests, reduce secondary outbreaks of other potential pests such as mites, and minimize hazards to people and pets. In part because of their more specialized and selective modes of action, these pesticides often require more knowledge, skill, and careful application to be effective.
Some of these pesticides can be mixed and applied together to increase their effectiveness. For example, an insecticide that provides immediate control such as pyrethrins can be combined with a pesticide, such as Bt or diflubenzuron, that acts more slowly to kill insects.
Depending on factors such as insecticide choice, application coverage and timing, oakworm abundance, and the presence of nearby untreated trees, more than one application may be needed to provide good control. For example, during outbreak years and when applying Bt discussed below , two sprays during each oakworm generation in Northern California may be needed to provide good control.
Make applications when young and mid-instar oakworms are the most prevalent life stages, typically March through April and July through August.
Decide the actual application times by monitoring oakworm populations. Microbial insecticides are naturally occurring microorganisms or their by-products produced commercially for pest control. Bacillus thuringiensis , commonly called Bt, is the most widely used and has been used effectively against oakworm for many years. Unlike broad-spectrum insecticides that kill on contact, oakworms must eat Bt-sprayed foliage to be killed.
Affected oakworms often die within a few days. Bt is not toxic to most non-caterpillar insects including natural enemies. Timing and thorough spray coverage, especially on the underside of leaves, are crucial for effective application.
Spinosyns insecticides i. Spinosyns are toxic to most caterpillars, fly larvae, thrips, and certain species of beetles and wasps. Sahra Geiger Pundit. What do Oakworm caterpillars eat? In Florida this oakworm feeds primarily on Shumard oak Quercus shumardii and water oak Quercus nigra.
Other common hosts are laurel oak Quercus laurifolia and southern red oak Quercus falcata. Live oak Quercus virginiensis is a white oak and does not support larval development. Acerina Horujy Pundit. How do you get rid of giant moths?
Fill your home with cedar. Combine dried, crushed, and powdered herbs. Use a sticky trap. Keep your floors, carpets, and moldings vacuumed and dusted. Freeze any clothes or belongings that show signs of moths. Wash clothes that contain larvae or eggs. Use vinegar to help. Dandan Holtzer Teacher. What does a gypsy moth look like? Gypsy moth caterpillars have five pairs of raised blue spots followed by six pairs of raised red spots along its back.
Female moths are white with brown markings. Males are brownish. Tent caterpillars look similar to gypsy moths and also feed in the spring.
Nazakat Maurici Teacher. What birds eat gypsy moth caterpillars? Some native birds, such as cuckoos , downy woodpeckers, gray catbirds, and common grackles , will eat gypsy moth caterpillars but, unfortunately, not in large enough quantities to have an effect during an outbreak.
White-footed mice, and occasionally gray squirrels , prey on gypsy moth larvae and pupae.
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