The council has received growing reports of brown-tail moth caterpillars in the Budleigh Salterton area, including sightings of their web tents on bramble hedgerows. A spokesperson for the council stated, "As the weather warms, we're seeing increased numbers of brown-tail moth caterpillars and their web 'tents' on bramble in Budleigh, particularly around the Steamer Steps area." These caterpillars are more often spotted during warmer months as they emerge from winter webs to feed on plants like hawthorn and blackthorn. They are commonly found on hedgerows in southern England and Wales, as well as some coastal regions further north.
Tiny hairs on the caterpillars can cause skin irritation similar to nettle stings, with contact also sometimes triggering allergies, eye irritation, and asthma symptoms. The council emphasized that the brown-tail moth species should not be confused with invasive oak processionary moth caterpillars, which are found almost exclusively on oak trees. The spokesperson added, "There's no need for alarm - just take sensible precautions [including] avoiding touching caterpillars or their webbed nests/tents and keeping children and dogs away from affected bramble."
As the weather warms, we're seeing increased numbers of brown-tail moth caterpillars and their web 'tents' on bramble in Budleigh, particularly around the Steamer Steps area.
It remains unclear how many people or pets have been affected by the caterpillars so far, and what specific medical treatments are recommended for exposure to the hairs. The extent of sightings beyond the Budleigh Salterton area is also unknown, and there is no information on any council plans to remove or control the caterpillar populations in affected areas.
There's no need for alarm - just take sensible precautions [including] avoiding touching caterpillars or their webbed nests/tents and keeping children and dogs away from affected bramble.