I found what I thought was a beautiful caterpillar on my strawberry plant. Did a google and its a brown tail moth toxic hairy beast! I have the itchies just thinking about it now. Are they common in Scotland? What should I do? Could it affect my hens?
you've done the best thing with it jarob, taken its photo
I can't think it's too serious, they've been around a long time and it's only in recent times words like toxic have been used, some of the hairy caterpillars can be a bit irritant, so can stinging nettles and all sorts things.
Don't get caught up in the modern hysteria about anything that may not be perfectly 100% innocuous.There's room for us all.
nut- I'm definitely getting brave. A couple of night ago I went out when it was dark to lock shed etc and there was a large-ish brown/orange moth stuck inside the tomato house. I opened the door and gently caught it and steered it outside! Didn't cry or anything!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I found one of these on a heuchera in my garden too - didn't know what type it was so relocted it to a geranium patch that i don't really like, and was happy for it to eat as much of that as it wanted!
When we had a the warmer weather a few weks ago i found a frog in the greenhouse enjoying a dip in the water tray for my cucumber - was quite happy so i just left to make it's on way home when it had finished paddling!
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you've done the best thing with it jarob, taken its photo
I can't think it's too serious, they've been around a long time and it's only in recent times words like toxic have been used, some of the hairy caterpillars can be a bit irritant, so can stinging nettles and all sorts things.
Don't get caught up in the modern hysteria about anything that may not be perfectly 100% innocuous.There's room for us all.
In the sticks near Peterborough
I would never kill anything but I was thinking to relocate it away from my sprogs :-
)
i used to lift caterpillars - hairy and otherwise - across the road to safety on my way to and from school when I was in primary lol.
I am amazed to see it in my garden. I found a toad the other day too
My wildlife gardening attempts must be working
just need to attract a hedgehog now
and some ladybirds
I'd love to have hedgehogs. Getting a few ladybirds now though
In the sticks near Peterborough
nut- I'm definitely getting brave. A couple of night ago I went out when it was dark to lock shed etc and there was a large-ish brown/orange moth stuck inside the tomato house. I opened the door and gently caught it and steered it outside! Didn't cry or anything!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairygirl,
I reckon you've got that one sorted
In the sticks near Peterborough
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Shudder!
I would cry.
I found one of these on a heuchera in my garden too - didn't know what type it was so relocted it to a geranium patch that i don't really like, and was happy for it to eat as much of that as it wanted!
When we had a the warmer weather a few weks ago i found a frog in the greenhouse enjoying a dip in the water tray for my cucumber - was quite happy so i just left to make it's on way home when it had finished paddling!
I would have run off screaming like a girl leaving the shed door unlocked and in fear of my life lol God I have got to get a backbone