Big hairy caterpillars munching my elderberry trees.

Today I noticed quite a few (i counted 7 without actively searching) large hairy caterpillars on my elderberry trees that I'm growing as a hedge/screen in my back garden.

There's still loads of healthy foliage on the trees, so the caterpillars can't have been there long. My gut instinct is to leave them be. The trees will be winding down for autumn soon anyway, so I doubt they'd suffer long term.

Am I wrong? Should I go out and wage war on the hairy critters? I'm thinking that if they make it too becoming moths, they'll provide food for the bats.

 

Let em bide Dave, like you say, its the end of the season & the trees will be shedding the leaves anyway.

 

ooooooooo what do they look like Clueless? are you sure they're moth caterpillars?

 

They kind of look like the escaped moustaches of you're average late teenage lad. I don't know that they'll be moths, they could be butterfly ones.

 

what colour?

 

Clueless, I think you'll have to take a picture for RandyRos.

 

Sort of black but with a ginger tint.

 

I'd guess at red admirals then

 

does it look like this????

 

Be a ruddy big butterfly then !!

 

And there was I thinking Llama's were quadrupeds

 

But this one has'nt any legs. He won't get far.

 

He's standing in a hole!

 

Somebody should throw him/her a rope.