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Caterpillars leave trees covered in silk

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A surge in the caterpillar population has left entire trees covered with cocoons of silk.

 

 

 

 

Published: 7:00AM BST 12 Jun 2009

 

One of the trees covered in silk by the caterpillars Photo: PA

The insects, called ermine moths, have been seen feeding on leaves at Cobtree Manor Park in Maidstone, Kent.

The caterpillars eat the leaves, then the larvae cover the trees in cocoons of silk, similar to giant spider webs, before the animals become moths.

Council officials said the trees will re-leaf and the caterpillars will not cause any long-term damage to them.

Deborah Collick, parks manager at Maidstone Borough Council, said: "I was quite excited when I first saw it because it gives quite a beautiful effect as it looks silky in the sunlight.

"One single adult can lay up to 400 eggs. What has happened here is a selection of adults have come along and laid eggs, which has resulted in this silk webbing."

Last month pictures emerged of an entire car covered in silk spun by an army of caterpillars in Spuikade, Holland.

Snow-like blankets of what looked like cobwebs were also spotted in Baggy Point, Croyde, near Devon.

It is thought the webs were formed by a migration of brown-tail moths, which have decided Baggy Point would make a good nesting area.

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