Buff-tip Moth

For the last week I have been sweeping up little black balls from the patio each morning and night, I thought they were probably coming from the Silver Birch tree but didn't know what they were as I'd never seen them before. I crushed one on my palm, they were firm but crushable and left a dark green stain. Two days ago we spotted a caterpillar walking over the patio and we moved him to a leaf in the border, we saw what we assumed was the same one going in the other direction, and then again and again! Groundhog day for the caterpillar!!

Photo by Phil Griffin

A friend thought it looked like a tortoiseshell butterfly caterpillar, I liked that idea, they are nice.....

Photo by Bracken B courtesy of BBC

But, upon closer inspection and a little research....

 (and after one fell down right in front of me!) ...we decided it was likely to be the Buff-tip moth caterpillar!!!! I do not like moths at all! Especially ones with a wing span of 6cm!!!

The moths lay their eggs in many different trees, one of which is a Silver Birch, and the caterpillars eat the leaves often defoliating whole branches......

My youngest daughter and I noticed this branch yesterday whilst lying on the sun lounger....
the very same spot the caterpillar fell to the ground!!! That could have been my face!!!!!

After feeding they pupate in the ground and overwinters as a chrysalis. Not looking forward to next May when it warms up and they dig their way out!!! Oh, and that black ball crushed on my palm? Caterpillar poop!!! Gross!