Raspberry Yellow Tail Moth. Stripping of leaves

Hairy caterpillars from the Yellow tail Moth can cause stripping of the leaves on Raspberries. Typical signs are holes in the raspberry leaves or eaten leaf edges.

Brightly coloured caterpillar of the yellow tail moth on rspberry leaf

Not normally a severe pest, for the caterpillars are only present in small numbers most of the time.

They can be picked off and destroyed - however wear gloves to do this for the hairs of this caterpillar can cause irritation. A contact spray of Bifenthrin will also kill the caterpillars. Do not use when plants are in flower.

The caterpillars are around 3cm long and brightly coloured orange and black with tufts of hairs protruding from the body - quite attractive! The adult moth is white, but with a slight yellow colouring of the lower part of the body - abdomen.

Adult moth showing the general white colouring of the Yellow-tail moth.