Catapillars - Scotts Pine

Have just noticed severe infestation of catapillars (green) on what i beleive is a scots pine tree.
They have eaten away most of the foleage on the tree which now has a browney rather than green appearance.
Catapillars also deposit their green pellet like "doo-doo`s" underneath the tree
Has anybody else experienced a similar infestation?
What effect will this has on the life of the tree?
Any sugestions to deal with this?

Havn`t seen any previous infestations, tree is about 12 feet tall and well established.

This novice gardener would appreciate any help.

Thanks

 

Welcome to GC Mike.

Sorry I don't have any advice for you but - sounds a bit nasty all those
caterpillars :eek:

I am sure somebody will read and give you an answer soon.

 

Mike, I have just looked up Scots Pine and found this:

"Like all trees, the Scots pine attracts the attention of various insects. Some of these live in the fissures between the plates or flakes of the tree's bark, and these form a food source for birds such as the crested tit (Parus cristatus) and the treecreeper (Certhia familiaris), which specialise in winkling them out of the cracks and crevices. Larvae of the pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) burrow into the wood of the tree, and other insects live on the pine's foliage - aphids suck the sap, and caterpillars of species such as the sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer) and pine looper moth (Bupalus piniaria) eat the needles (right). Wood ants (Formica aquilonia) feed on these caterpillars, thereby helping to protect the trees from defoliation"

Are these the caterpillars on your tree?

 

Hi JJ,
Cheers for the reply.
Yep these look like the little critters that are chewing on my tree.
Pitty i don`t have an infestation of woodants to counter this.
Maybe the poor summer weather will have some impact on stopping these - here`s hoping for an early winter!!!

 

Hang on Mike - wishing for an early winter
- we haven't had much summer in Norfolk yet !

Where do you live then ?