Guides · Dover Hedges & Tree Services

Brown-tail moth in Dover hedges: identifying the webs and removing them safely

Brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) is a coastal species. Its UK stronghold is the south-east, and within that, the Kent coast is one of the most consistently affected areas in the country. If you have a hawthorn, blackthorn or briar hedge in Dover, the chance of finding the characteristic silk webs at some point is real, not theoretical. The moth itself is harmless. The caterpillar hairs are not: they cause an itchy urticarial rash, can irritate eyes, and in some people trigger respiratory symptoms. This page explains what to look for and how to deal with it without harming yourself.

What brown-tail moth webs look like in a hedge

The webs are compact white silk tents, typically the size of a clenched fist or slightly larger, spun around clusters of outer twigs at the tips of branches. They appear from late summer onward, becoming most visible from September through the winter once the host hedge has lost its leaves. On an evergreen such as hawthorn in a dense hedgerow the webs can be harder to spot, but on bare winter stems they stand out clearly as white masses against the branch structure.

The caterpillars pupate inside communal webs through autumn and winter. They are dark brownish-black with two rows of reddish-orange tubercles (spots or bumps) along the back and have long white body hairs mixed with shorter rust-brown ones. When the weather warms in March or April they emerge from the webs and disperse across the plant to feed, often defoliating entire sections of a hedge in a heavy infestation before moving on. By late spring they have pupated and the adult moth, white-winged with a distinctive rust-coloured tuft at the tail, appears from late June to August.

Brown-tail moth webs are sometimes confused with the winter webs of small ermine moths (Yponomeuta species), which cover larger sections of branch in a looser, finer gauze, or with spider webbing in autumn. Brown-tail webs are denser, more compact, and persist through winter rather than dispersing.

Which Dover hedge plants are most affected

The species most commonly hosting brown-tail moth in Dover's hedges and hedgerows are hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), wild and ornamental rose (including dog rose Rosa canina), and bramble (Rubus fruticosus) at the base of hedges. All four are native species and all four are extremely common in Dover's chalk downland hedgerows, particularly along the hedgerow networks south of the A2 and on the coastal clifftop paths between Dover and St Margaret's.

In garden settings, rose hedges, briar screens and native mixed hedges containing hawthorn or blackthorn are the most likely hosts. Formal garden hedges of privet, leylandii or yew are not host plants and are very rarely affected. If you have a native mixed hedge or a hawthorn boundary on a chalk downland plot in the Dover district, checking for webs each autumn is a sensible habit.

The health risk from urticating hairs

Brown-tail moth caterpillars develop very fine hairs (up to 2.5 mm) that contain a toxin causing an urticarial reaction on skin contact: an itchy, raised rash similar to a nettle sting but potentially more persistent, lasting days or weeks in sensitive individuals. The hairs can also cause eye irritation and conjunctivitis, and in some people, particularly those with asthma or other respiratory sensitivities, inhalation causes coughing, throat irritation or wheezing.

What makes the brown-tail moth hairs unusual compared with most stinging insects is their persistence. The hairs detach easily from the caterpillar and from old webs, cling to fabric, and remain biologically active for months or years. They can be blown from webs or from grass beneath infested plants on dry windy days, affecting people who have no direct contact with the caterpillars themselves. Avoid raking or mowing beneath hedges with an active infestation during the spring feeding period (March to June). After the caterpillars have gone, old webs still carry shed hairs and should be handled with the same care as fresh ones.

If you develop a significant rash after working near an infested hedge, pharmacist-level antihistamines and hydrocortisone cream are the standard first treatment. Seek medical advice if the reaction is severe, if there is any swelling of the face or throat, or if breathing is affected. Contact your vet if a pet shows facial swelling or eye discharge after contact with an infested hedge.

When and how to remove the webs safely

The correct removal window is November to March. During this period the caterpillars are inside the webs and can be removed with them. If you attempt removal in April or later, the caterpillars will have emerged and scattered across the plant; removing the empty webs at that stage does not reduce the infestation.

Before you start:

• Wear a long-sleeved top and long trousers, in older clothing you are willing to wash separately at a high temperature afterward. Hairs adhere strongly to fabric and are not removed by a cool wash.
• Wear nitrile or rubber gloves, not fabric gardening gloves. Fine hairs penetrate fabric.
• Wear close-fitting eye protection: safety glasses or goggles, not open reading glasses.
• Work on a still day, not a windy one. Disturbing webs on a breezy day disperses hairs widely.
• Do not touch your face during the work. Wash hands and face thoroughly as soon as you have finished.
• Have a sealable bin liner ready before you start cutting.

The removal method:

• Use secateurs or sharp loppers to cut the twigs immediately behind the web, so the web comes away attached to a short section of stem. Do not tear or pull the web open: this releases hairs.
• Drop each cut section directly into the bin liner without shaking it or bringing it close to your face.
• Tie the bag securely when done and dispose of it in your household waste bin or burn it on site. Do not add it to a garden compost heap.
• After the work, remove your outer clothing before entering the house and wash it separately. Rinse your face and exposed skin thoroughly. Store the eye protection and gloves separately and rinse before reuse.

If a substantial infestation has built up, or the webs are at height in a tree where reaching them safely would require a ladder, the job is better done by a contractor with appropriate PPE and equipment. Working from a ladder with one hand occupied holding eye protection is not safe.

Brown-tail moth in trees with a preservation order

If the affected plant is a tree covered by a Tree Preservation Order in Dover, you must apply to Dover District Council's planning department for consent before carrying out any pruning, including the removal of pest webs. TPO applications for pest management are routinely approved, but verbal confirmation from a planning officer is not sufficient: you need written consent before any cutting. If the tree is in a conservation area rather than under a named TPO, the same principle applies under the Section 211 notice procedure. Contact the DDC planning department to confirm which applies in your situation before you pick up the secateurs.

Common questions about brown-tail moth in Dover

Can cold weather or frost kill the caterpillars inside a brown-tail moth web?

No. Brown-tail moth caterpillars are cold-hardy and overwinter successfully inside their silk tents through typical UK winters. The web insulates them from frost and wind. They emerge in March or April to begin feeding regardless of how hard the previous winter was. Waiting for cold weather to do the work for you is not an effective strategy. Cutting out and disposing of the webs between November and March while the caterpillars are still inside is the only reliable method.

Can dogs and cats be harmed by brown-tail moth hairs?

Yes. The urticating hairs that cause rash and eye irritation in people affect pets in the same way. Dogs that sniff at or brush past webs or fallen caterpillars can develop skin irritation, facial swelling or eye problems. Keep pets away from hedges and areas of grass beneath infested plants during the spring feeding period (March to June) when shed hairs are most concentrated on the ground. If a pet shows facial swelling or eye discharge after contact with an infested hedge, contact a vet promptly.

Does Dover District Council remove brown-tail moth webs from private gardens?

No. Dover District Council does not carry out treatment or removal of brown-tail moth on private land. Their published guidance directs property owners to remove webs themselves between November and March using protective clothing and equipment. The council may act on infestations on public trees or public land within the district. If you are unable to reach the webs safely or the infestation is large, contact a hedge or tree contractor with the appropriate PPE.

What if the webs are in a tree with a Tree Preservation Order?

If the host tree has a TPO on it, written consent from Dover District Council's planning department is required before cutting, even for pest management. Apply before the November start of the removal window so you are not waiting through December and January when the work is most practical. See our full guide to TPOs in Dover for how to check the register and what the application involves.

Are brown-tail moth hairs still dangerous after the caterpillars have gone?

Yes. The hairs persist in old webs, in dead caterpillars and on the ground beneath affected plants for months or even years after the caterpillars themselves have moved on. They are very fine, cling to fabric and can become airborne on dry windy days, irritating the skin, eyes and airways of anyone nearby. Avoid raking or disturbing material beneath a recently infested hedge until rain has washed the area thoroughly. Old empty webs that remain on the plant after the caterpillars emerge in spring still carry shed hairs and should be handled with the same PPE as fresh ones when removed.

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