Pale Tussock moth (larva)

Description:

The caterpillars of the Pale Tussock are rather distinctive, being pale to bright yellow or greenish yellow in color. When fully grown these caterpillars possess a red-orange horn-like structure at the tail end of the body. The conspicuous coloring serves as a warning to would be predators - 'Do not eat'!

Habitat:

Caterpillar feeds on a wide variety of shrubs and trees including Blackthorn, Birch and oaks.

Notes:

The caterpillars used to be referred to as 'Hop Dogs' because they were frequently found in Hop fields before the widespread use of insecticides. It seems that on occasions the population of caterpillars can 'explode' and reach huge numbers. At such times they can easily de-foliate trees but this doesn't do any lasting harm as these events seem to take place during autumn when the trees are shedding their foliage for winter and the caterpillars are feeding on the decaying leaf litter.