By Mark61
South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Can anybody help me with this please.This as appeared in one of my neighbours gardens.It is approx 3ft wide by 2ft long by 1ft deep.It looks like a giant spiders web but cannot be certain.Or could something else be causing this as it is killing the edge.
- 21 Aug, 2010
Answers
These are possibly small ermine moth caterpillars.If you can do some poking around you may find some creamy,yellow black spotted caterpillars.They feed on the host shrub and can defoliate it if there are many.
21 Aug, 2010
hi thankyou for your quick responces.Is there a way of getting rid of them without causing to much damage to the edge?
21 Aug, 2010
You can prune out the affected branches if you don't want to spray or if it is difficult to get to.
21 Aug, 2010
thank you so much :) will tell them .
21 Aug, 2010
Take a closer inspection if you can, if not caterpillars,could it be a spider mite infestation? They are tiny about the size of a
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21 Aug, 2010
I wasn't aware that spider mites produced a huge web...
21 Aug, 2010
They can, but it is usually closer to the foliage and stems than that, and more finely woven. One quick way to tell: the leaves and young stems inside the web will be missing or visibly chewed if it is caterpillars. If mites, the leaves will look undamaged, but with a tan or white "sandblasted" look.
21 Aug, 2010
Previous question
I suspect you will find thousands of tiny caterpillars in there!
21 Aug, 2010