Brown-tail moth
Euproctis chrysorrhoea
- Group
- Stinging-hair caterpillar
- Risk
- Moderate danger
- Protection status
- Not protected
- Identifying features
-
- Tussock moth
- White moths with a golden-brown tuft of hair at the tip of the abdomen
- Caterpillar webs on free-standing deciduous and fruit trees
- Urticating hairs with a skin reaction similar to processionary moths
- Urticating hairs clearly visible, so the risk of contact is lower
- More widespread in Switzerland than processionary moths
The brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) is a tussock moth that is considerably more widespread in Switzerland than the processionary moths. This profile sets out how to identify it — for practical steps in the event of an infestation, see our brown-tail moth guide.
Identifying features
- Moth: white in colour, with a striking golden-brown tuft of hair at the tip of the abdomen
- Caterpillar: lives communally in webs on free-standing deciduous and fruit trees
- Distribution: more widespread in Switzerland than the oak, pine or Scots pine processionary moth
Risk
Moderate: the urticating hairs of the brown-tail moth can cause skin irritation similar to that from processionary moths. As they are clearly visible by comparison, however, the risk of unnoticed contact is lower.
Protection status in Switzerland
The brown-tail moth is not legally protected in Switzerland.
What to do about an infestation
The same rule applies to the brown-tail moth: never touch or remove the webs yourself. We describe exactly how to proceed in the event of an infestation in our brown-tail moth guide.