Whose web/nest/tent?

goosey · #1 (**permalink**) 28-09-2009, 04:26 PM

I spotted quite a few of these in Sea Buckthorn - Hippophae rhamnoides, at first I thought the nest was empty but I think what ever is in it is in the thicker white part of the nest. All the frass has fallen to the bottom which is clever and the insects aren't in contact with it. I didn't notice any exit hole. Now I see the image I think I can make out 2 larvae of some type.

I have seen spindle ermine moth larvae in nests similar - but they were obvious and there was no thick white nest within a nest.
I have also seen Brown-tail moth in a nest but I don't remember it being like this and they were on Dog Rose.

I ride past this spot several times aweek and I don't recall seeing them before.

H Dogg · #2 (**permalink**) 28-09-2009, 05:09 PM

Its a tent from a moth of some sort, not sure if you can identify them by just the tent would be interested to know though.

charlieb · #3 (**permalink**) 29-09-2009, 11:26 AM

Brown-tails do occur on Sea buckthorn - just ask anyone at Spurn! - from a quick perusal of those that feed on sea buckthorn I can't see any other web makers.

Do you have any more shots, closer maybe (I can see a single larva in that shot)? If you do go back be very careful - Brown-tails are vicious! Bill Aspins Birding Blog.: Spurn, East Yorkshire: 29th-31st May 2008.

goosey · #4 (**permalink**) 29-09-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlieb

Brown-tails do occur on Sea buckthorn - just ask anyone at Spurn! - from a quick perusal of those that feed on sea buckthorn I can't see any other web makers.

Do you have any more shots, closer maybe (I can see a single larva in that shot)? If you do go back be very careful - Brown-tails are vicious! Bill Aspins Birding Blog.: Spurn, East Yorkshire: 29th-31st May 2008.

OMG!

That's awful - poor man.

No I don't have anymore piccies, sorry - but when I go back to check these nests out I will be very careful!

I have seen Brown tail nests before but they have been April/May. Is it usual to find these larvae so late in the year? Will they over-winter as pupae?

charlieb · #5 (**permalink**) 29-09-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosey

I have seen Brown tail nests before but they have been April/May. Is it usual to find these larvae so late in the year? Will they over-winter as pupae?

They overwinter as part grown larva, August to June - so if you find any larva they may be slightly non-descript

goosey · #6 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 11:15 AM

Just to let you know that I have checked on this several times since I posted the picture and each time I have seen no sign of ny larvae at all. Now though, the webs have totally thickened and are now all white.

By the way - what is this actually called - is it a web, nest, tent or called something else?