Ermine Moth caterpillars everywhere!

There have been several reports over the last week or so, of numerous Ermine Moth caterpillars seen in 'clumps of web', stripping the foliage almost completely in some cases, from Spindle and Apple trees in particular.

An almost completely stripped Apple tree [photo Derek T]

Some of the culprits on the Apple tree [photo Derek T]

A mass of caterpillars below a Spindle tree on BBRd [photo Carole M]

 [photo Carole M]

Caterpillars and web reaching high into this Spindle tree [photo Carole M]

[photo Carole M]

More web and caterpillars on a Spindle on the LSA [photo David F]