A dire warning

THE PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLAR

This pest attacks pine and cedar forests in all Mediterranean countries but Southern Europe is most affected. They are highly toxic and extremely dangerous to animals and humans alike. The hairs of the caterpillar can cause anything from mild irritation to the skin to severe allergic reactions that can even be fatal. They MUST NEVER be touched without appropriate protection. The adult moths emerge during the warm months of the summer between July and August. They will travel for many kilometres, searching for a suitable 'host' tree in which to lay their eggs.

The five stage process of larval development takes between four and eight months. At the end of this process, the caterpillars will set off on their mammoth expedition, leaving the tree in a nose to tail procession (hence the name) in order to find soft ground into which they can penetrate. The chrysalis can wait for up to a year for the perfect climate into which new moths emerge at which point, the whole process begins again. The caterpillars feed on pine needles and have been known to desecrate vast areas of forest.

In this area of the Costa Blanca, the pine trees are sprayed to try and prevent this damage but only in areas that are protected or considered to be of natural importance. There are still huge areas of pines that will currently be home for the processionary caterpillar. They are active at night and will be climbing all over the tree both searching for food and constructing nests which are easy to identify. The nests are usually towards the top of the tree or at the end of the branches where they can gain maximum warmth from sunshine.

They are strangely beautiful nests, cocoons of spun silk that glisten in the sunlight. This beauty belies the danger however and they must be treated with extreme caution. It has been suggested by the Spanish that if a nest is disturbed, the caterpillars are able to 'fire' their poisonous hairs in self-protection. ALWAYS wear thick clothes and gloves and protect the eyes with goggles. It is best to remove the nest by cutting the branch on which it is sited to avoid too much disruption and burning it in its entirety in a metal container or suitable fire.

Some people suggest plunging the nest into strong chlorine. When the caterpillars leave the trees, they will 'process' in a long line of up to 300 at a time. Moving nose to tail, the long, wiggly lines are extremely attractive to dogs, cats and small children. They can be swept up using a brush and pan saved especially for this purpose, whilst wearing protection. As horrific as it sounds, they must be incinerated quickly. At the risk of being alarmist, it must be understood that if ingested, it takes only one or two caterpillars to kill a cat, dog, child or vulnerable person.

At the very least, touching the caterpillars will result in skin irritation, at worst, anaphylactic shock and possibly death. If you are even slightly concerned that your pet or child may have come into contact with processionary caterpillars, do not delay a minute, seek immediate medical assistance. Avoid walking children or dogs in pine forests and keep a very close eye on trees in your garden or that of your neighbour. The caterpillar is about an inch long with long brown hairs and yellow 'blotches'.

Taken from the Round Town News