A section of hedgerow covered in web-like coverings was described as “amazing” by an amateur photographer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The webs, which were coated in caterpillars, stretched over a 5m (16ft) piece of hedge on the A146 between Chedgrave and Thurton, according to Jonathan Orland of Loddon, Norfolk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s amazing to see; they believe in the safety of numbers,” he remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They’re most likely a type of micro ermine moth caterpillar, according to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“They prefer different types of plants and shrubs,” said Bob Morgan, a reserve communications officer. “You often see them in hedgerows.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To protect themselves from parasite wasps and birds, the moths spin these massive, thick webs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They can survive on a variety of plants, such as pine or nettle, depending on the species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The populations will blossom in some years, and this seems to fluctuate with the quantity of wasps.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The caterpillars normally survive from May to June before disappearing until the adult moths take flight in late summer, according to the trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was proven that the webbing is harmless to the host plant and that it will fade away once the critters have left their temporary home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A section of hedgerow covered in web-like coverings was described as “amazing” by an amateur<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[591],"tags":[1011],"class_list":["post-16768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-caterpillar"],"yoast_head":"\n