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Brown tail moth caterpillar Scotland

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?

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  • Jarob24Jarob24 Posts: 16

    image

     

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    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
  • Jarob24Jarob24 Posts: 16

    I would never kill anything but I was thinking to relocate it away from my sprogs :-image)

    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 imageimage My wildlife gardening attempts must be workingimage

    just need to attract a hedgehog nowimage and some ladybirds

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I'd love to have hedgehogs. Getting a few ladybirds now though



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    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! image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Fairygirl,image

    I reckon you've got that one sorted



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • HaisieHaisie Posts: 108

    Shudder!imageI would cry.

  • rhonsalrhonsal Posts: 25

    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 image

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