The weird and wonderful creatures of Sussex (From The Argus)

The weird and wonderful creatures of Sussex

3:30pm Monday 6th June 2011 in News By James Wallin

A poisonous caterpillar and its extremely rare lookalike are just two of the weird and wonderful creatures crawling across Sussex this summer.

Residents have been warned to be on the lookout for the Brown Tail Moth which can cause rashes and swelling if it comes into contact with human flesh.

One council has urged residents to set fire to the creatures while they hibernate.

But a moth expert has said this approach could wipe out one of Sussex’s rarest forms of caterpillar.

Other rare creatures to look out for this summer include the Pearl-bordered Fritillary which was at one point on the verge of extinction but is now beginning to flourish thanks to a reintroduction programme and the rare Dolomedes Plantarius spider.

But it is the Brown Tail Moth that is causing most debate, namely because of the dangers it poses to people with eczema and asthma.

In Crawley the borough council has advised residents to remove the web-like, white tent structure it constructs on leaves, and set fire to it.

The council already carries out a spraying programme using chemicals designed to stop the creatures reproducing.

But Colin Pratt, county moth recorder, has warned against the practice.

He said: “By all means people can remove the tents and drop them somewhere unpopulated but I would strongly advise against setting them on fire.

“For one thing the tents look almost identical to those of the Small Eggar, which is almost extinct in Sussex now.”

The brown tail moth exists across Sussex but is particularly attracted to seaside locations.

Other creepy crawlies that have popped up across the county include May bugs, which terrorised Brighton couple Amy Buckwell and Lee Ford in their own home.

The bugs would dive bomb the couple in their living and room and even led to their five-year-old son Dylan having his head shaved to get rid of the bugs trapped in his hair.

A more deadly Sussex resident is the female adder, found in the county’s woods, parks, beaches and countryside. However experts say more people die from reactions to bee stings than the potentially fatal bite of the adder.