Caterpillar season on Banstead Commons

May 2025

At this time of year, the Commons are teeming with life. Spring and Summer are the months when caterpillars are most active.

Oak trees for example support over 300 different species of caterpillar. Each organism has its own special role to play in a healthy ecosystem.

Visitors of our Chalk Downland sites are currently observing the mass emergence of the Spindle Ermine moth caterpillars. These amazing little caterpillars will strip a Spindle tree of its foliage in days.

Don’t worry, the caterpillar poses no risk to humans and does not harm the plant. Once the caterpillars pupate, the vegetation will produce a second flush of leaves and you wouldn’t even know the caterpillar had been present!

Isn’t nature wonderful.