Ermine moth infestation could see decades-old trees lost

The cider business, based near Kingsbury Episcopi in Somerset, has 15,000 trees and says at least half are currently infected.

Somerset Cider Brandy doesn't use pesticides and says its only defence against the creatures is to buy ducks to eat the caterpillars.

An ermine moth is white with small black spots on the forewing, but the number of spots can vary.

They form ghostly webbing over the leaves to protect themselves from predatory birds while they feast. 

"It's the result of our climate breakdown and we've been seeing different things each year but this year it's the apple ermine moth which is worse than anyone in living memory can say," Matilda Temperley, managing director of Somerset Cider Brandy Company, told the BBC. 

"By taking all the leaves off the trees there'll be no harvest from them but if there's another stress event it's very likely the infected trees won't survive."

There's a real worry about the amount of trees that could be affected at Burrow Hill Cider Farm.

The caterpillars strip the trees of leaves while spinning extensive and sinister webs as they feed, leaving the bare trees with a ghostly appearance. (Image: Milton Cogheil)

It isn't the flying moths that cause harm to the apple tree but, in spring, the trees are encased in thick cobwebs with eggs and larvae which can cause them stress and the caterpillars of the apple ermine moth, which hatch in summer, can cause defoliation.

They strip the trees of leaves while spinning extensive and sinister webs as they feed, leaving the bare trees with a ghostly appearance. 

"We are looking at potentially losing trees that have have been nurtured for the last three, four or five decades," Matilda added.