Pest on Pear

[ken]

Was summer pruning a cordon pear today when I noticed what I thought at first was a dense cobweb full of black fly. On closer examination it was a tent created by about half a dozen orange caterpillars with black heads. What I'd taken to be black fly were their droppings. They've been dealt with, but can anyone advise what they were?

[Parsons Jack]

Hi Ken

Sound like the Social Pear Sawfly.

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/thread/ ... teway=true

[ken]

Many thanks, PJ. Looks very much as if you are right. I'll take another look today as there may be bits of the tent left, and what I took to be poo may be further eggs... All best, Ken