Ermine Moth Caterpillar Infestation

[pubrunner]

I've just seen on BBC News, that there is a Ermine Moth Caterpillar Infestation in Bradford.

My link

What I can't understand is this, why aren't there vast numbers of birds swooping down to carry off these tasty morsels for their young ?

I saw this on live tv and the absence of birds was noticeable.

 

[PK99]

I've just seen on BBC News, that there is a Ermine Moth Caterpillar Infestation in Bradford.

My link

What I can't understand is this, why aren't there vast numbers of birds swooping down to carry off these tasty morsels for their young ?

I saw this on live tv and the absence of birds was noticeable.

"The silk web cocoons that they make are designed to protect them from birds and parasitic wasps so they can eat leaves undisturbed."

 

[Arch]

I've just seen on BBC News, that there is a Ermine Moth Caterpillar Infestation in Bradford.

My link

What I can't understand is this, why aren't there vast numbers of birds swooping down to carry off these tasty morsels for their young ?

I saw this on live tv and the absence of birds was noticeable.

They may be unpalatable, or there simply may not been vast numbers of birds around. I work on a nature reserve, and even there, with oodles of natural habitat, there aren't hundreds and thousands of birds in evidence - it's the nature of the food chain that there are lots of things at the bottom, and progressively fewer up the chain.

 

[XmisterIS]

That picture reminds me of a scene from the Stephen King film Mist.

 

[moia]

there was a blue tit having a go at them yesterday afternoon!

 

[Cubist]

Must be this 'ere global warming, but this couple just down the road from me can barely see their garden now!
http://www.examiner....081-28704911/2/