News: The procession caterpillar has arrived: dangerous for children and deadly for dogs

The high temperatures in many parts of Spain have ensured that the dangerous procession caterpillars are again present in large numbers.

These little creatures seem ostensibly dangerous but seem to deceive as children can get well sick by touching this caterpillar and pets like dogs can even die from it.

The processional caterpillar or in Spanish "oruga procesionaria" is a small, common and dangerous creature that is normally seen in a group. As the name implies, they often walk across the ground in a process style, in succession, but they can also be found in trees and on branches. Experts recommend avoiding any contact with these creatures as they can be fatal for dogs and can make small children pretty ill.

The processional caterpillars or thaumetopoea pityocampa are probably one of the most unpleasant insects you can find in Spain, especially in areas where pine trees occur in large numbers. These caterpillars can be found in the warmer regions of southern Europe and thus also in Spain. They cause great damage to the pine forests and they are also a great danger for animals and in some cases for humans.

Do not touch them!

Warn children that these caterpillars are different than the ones they know from Belgium and the Netherlands (although they are there too). The very fine hair of these animals are poisonous and dangerous. If you have pets you have to pay special attention because the procession caterpillars can kill animals or get very seriously ill.

True

Processional caterpillars can be found in silk cocoons hanging in pine trees, here they are dangerous for the trees, they remove all needles. If they get more hungry, they move to the next tree where they then eat the needles. They move their nose against the tail, in a long line. They have gotten their name from that, processionary caterpillars.

When

They are usually seen from January to mid-April and are at its most dangerous from mid to late February. Sometimes, however, they are already observed in the month of December.

pay attention

If they fall on you or your pet, do not wipe them with your hands because the effect is very unpleasant, it causes a great irritation, itching and pain. People, dogs and cats can get shocked!

The hairs of the caterpillars remain dangerous, even though the caterpillars are dead. Do not poker them with a stick, the hairs fly around and remain dangerous. They can best be burned so that the hairs can no longer fly around.

Tips

They are still in the cocoon in the tree, spray hairspray to stick the hairs, put a plastic bag around and burn the bag on the ground.

Crawl the caterpillars over the ground, spray them with petrol and set them on fire. This reduces the flying hair around. Be careful not to fire a fire.

If you live near pine trees, then it is recommended that you have anti Histamine tablets on hand. Dogs run a greater risk with these animals when they sniff the ground where the caterpillars have been.

Also be careful before your eyes, if they are infected you will get severe pain and swelling of the eyes.