what is this cobwebby stuff

[francesbean]

Ive been driving around the lanes (somerset) over the past few days, and noticed a lot of cobwebby grey stuff in the hedgerows. Its usually massive and covers whole swathes of hedgerow (Dont know what type of plant - but it appears not to have any leaves growing on it- because of the cobwebby stuff perhps?)

Does anyone know what it is - I havent been able to stop as its usually on a stretch with no stopping places.

francesbean

[Flummery]

At a guess, funnel web spiders.

[Hilary B]

A couple of years back I saw this (or something similar) on trees in a town we spent an hour or so in (can't remember which one), and when I looked a bit closer there were THOUSANDS (possibly even millions) of little nearly-black caterpillars everywhere below, as if they had 'abseiled' down once there were no leaves left on those trees.
I don't know what they are, but they certainly seem to do a lot of damage to the trees!

[lizzylemon]

I've seen a news paper report (TV or paper can't remember) about somewhere near here that's had the same thing and it's a caterpillar causing all the cobwebs (silks I think is the correct term) and they've eaten all the leaves which is why you can't see any.

I'll see if I can find a link

[lizzylemon]

Here we are:

http://www.glosnats.org.uk/images/news/ermine_web.jpg

This isn't the original thread I'm sure I saw it a couple of weeks back (or I'm having déjà vu ) but it's as good as

Caterpillars cover car in Holland | The Sun |News

[SueA]

I remember seeing a hedgerow covered with the same sort of webs a few years ago, I think they are some kind of moth caterpillars, not sure which ones though, I think there are a few which do that sort of thing, tent, tortrix, ermine etc. Looks spooky doesn't it on the car Lizzy!

[Jax]

ooooh thats strange!!!

[francesbean]

I think you may be correct with the spindle ermine moth - found this linky as its same time of year I think it may be spot on - dont plant the spindle tree/bush - they look seriously troublesome.

'Silk' moth tree is axed (From The Oxford Times)

francesbean

[Hilary B]

I think you may be correct with the spindle ermine moth - found this linky as its same time of year I think it may be spot on - dont plant the spindle tree/bush - they look seriously troublesome.

'Silk' moth tree is axed (From The Oxford Times)

francesbean

That might be what I saw (and where I saw it). That photo looks very like the place I was looking at them, and it was next door to a hotel.