Anybody know what these are?

[The PIT]

Walking along Dam flask we came across large areas covered in this stuff which from a distant looks like snow or frost and I was tempted to post as a joke. However what's causing this. I did take a picture of a tree covered ins the stuff but didn't come out well.

[The PIT]

Maybe this

Spindle Ermine Cocoons | UKmoths

WWW.UKMOTHS.ORG.UK

 

[Methuselah]

6 minutes ago, The PIT said:

Walking along Dam flask we came across large areas covered in this stuff which from a distant looks like snow or frost and I was tempted to post as a joke. However what's causing this. I did take a picture of a tree covered ins the stuff but didn't come out well.

I'd guess at either insect of arachnid larval thingies. Or maturing Body Snatchers! 

[Metwatch]

Saw the same earlier this month, it's pretty much just some cottonwood seeds which looks like thick frost or dusting of snow.

[Paul]

I was going to say it looks like seeds just sticking to the leaves etc. 

[The PIT]

Didn't see any caterpillars at all so cottonwood seems to be favourite.

[mushymanrob]

Think its seeds off Willow....

[Paul]

9 minutes ago, mushymanrob said:

Think its seeds off Willow....

Somebody on twitter thought it may be that as well. 

[Blessed Weather]

Yes, the White Willow trees near me shed fluffy, cotton wool like seeds and when 3 or 4 of them are in full swing the grass verges start to look as if they've had a dusting of snow. 

[The PIT]

Didn't see any willow trees nearby though.

[Blessed Weather]

1 hour ago, The PIT said:

Didn't see any willow trees nearby though.

Hi PIT. Take a look at these images. The write up by the Woodlands Trust (also see image) is worth reading. The link:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/white-willow/?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4NujBhC5ARIsAF4Iv6c-Ir0-80yy-mZm7oLOW6zKWw7vWpa5MT7YKcikqXtsLgr-dgJVCQ0aAvXlEALw_wcB

Hope you get to the bottom of it. Let us know.

 

[Dreckly]

Could be white poplar seeds.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/white-poplar/

Edited May 31, 2023 by Dreckly

[Scuba steve]

Willow fluff we get it here 

[mushymanrob]

1 hour ago, Dreckly said:

Could be white poplar seeds.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/white-poplar/

Im not going to argue about whether its willow or poplar, they are closely related, and they both produce copious amounts of wind borne seeds.  

But they are tree seeds, poplar or willow..

[Metwatch]

More extreme version of it in Michigian yesterday. 

[piglet]

In the SE of UK, Spindle Ermine moth caterpillars have really gone to town on spindle bushes in just the last two years.

Box moth caterpillars are decimating box hedging and for the first time this year, plum pocket disease is in the wild plum and sloe trees and bushes.

Spindle moth caterpillars congregate together and the whole bush can look as though it's covered in cotton wool. When they've eaten every leaf, they huddle together in a tight group.

Changing weather patterns?

I can put up with some things, but the loss of plums and sloes of sloe gin variety is a different matter. For years I've frozen the wild plums for winter consumption and do some bottles of sloe gin.

If the fungus of plum pocket disease gets established in the wild stock, it could be goodbye plum jam.

[Wingman Blue]

Warm, wet weather. Just the thing for moulds, fungi and insects.

one harsh fortnight and they’ll disappear.