Processionary Caterpillars Warning Pet Owners (1 Viewer)

[gus-lopez]

I think they sort of shoot the hairs out if touched?

Yes they do.

 

[Burgo]

To cut a long story short, Mrs. B. trod on some old pine needles bare foot at Cabo Pino early June in 2019. She started getting really bad itching on the soles of her feet, but we thought initially it was either a patch of hot sand had burned her or something. Then about 10 minutes later started complaining about a funny feeling in her tounge and started slurring.
Uh oh!
No time to sort the van and dogs out so just threw the dogs into the van and hot footed it to reception for them to call an ambulance. Luckily there was a taxi dropping off there so chucked her in the back, told the driver what was happening so he could explain if she collapsed en route and told him take her to urgencias with all despatch. Massive hydrocortisone injections sorted her out, and as there were no problems they chucked her out after a few hours obs.

 

[Littlewheels]

To cut a long story short, Mrs. B. trod on some old pine needles bare foot at Cabo Pino early June in 2019. She started getting really bad itching on the soles of her feet, but we thought initially it was either a patch of hot sand had burned her or something. Then about 10 minutes later started complaining about a funny feeling in her tounge and started slurring.
Uh oh!
No time to sort the van and dogs out so just threw the dogs into the van and hot footed it to reception for them to call an ambulance. Luckily there was a taxi dropping off there so chucked her in the back, told the driver what was happening so he could explain if she collapsed en route and told him take her to urgencias with all despatch. Massive hydrocortisone injections sorted her out, and as there were no problems they chucked her out after a few hours obs.

If that isn’t reason enough to avoid them at all cost l don’t know what is…..and yet people do and will continue to do so ……oh look at these little furry caterpillars aren’t they cute… bingo,another victim. A regular occurrence.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

We are due to be In Portugal beginning of May, will they still be around, few web sites have said April they clear up but not sure if it’s subject to the weather they have before hand??

 

[Burgo]

If that isn’t reason enough to avoid them at all cost l don’t know what is…..and yet people do and will continue to do so ……oh look at these little furry caterpillars aren’t they cute… bingo,another victim. A regular occurrence.

Having lived here for some 16 years with dogs, and having worked with rescue dogs with necrosed tongues due to caterpillars, we were well aware of the dangers, thank you. One of the learning points is that this was in June, after the usual "caterpillar season". It transpired that they had been clearing some of the chalet roofs off, and we suspect some of the needles either had caterpillar hairs in them or parts of an old nest. And it was on the edge of one those piles she had trodden.

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[Wingingit#1]

Seen lots of nests in the trees over the last few days travelling from spain back to france . .. theres certainly more around than we realized.

 

[Littlewheels]

we were well aware of the dangers, thank you

I wasn’t inferring that you brought this on yourself,l was inferring that your story simply showed how easy it is to subject oneself to the danger.

 

[brynric]

A little update.
One of the site staff has just been round on his tractor staring into the tree tops. Wherever he saw a nest he marked the tree with tape. There are now an awful lot of trees marked with red and white tape.
What will happen next???
Update to follow.

 

[Littlewheels]

Spraying l would think,it’s what we had carried out and it was the end of them really.

 

[Burgo]

There are now an awful lot of trees marked with red and white tape.
What will happen next???

Round here some people wrap what looks like a yellow tape around the trunk which works like a sticky fly paper. The caterpillars stick to it when they march down the tree. Haven't seen red and white ones though so may well be a marker to spray the tree.

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[bladerunner]

The hills above St Remi de Provence are closed late spring because of the hateful things.

 

[brynric]

may well be a marker to spray the tree.

That’s what I thought. Folk have seen lengthy processions so it’s clearly due.

 

[brynric]

Round here some people wrap what looks like a yellow tape around the trunk which works like a sticky fly paper.

Update:
Exactly what happened. Wide yellow tape wrapped round all the trees previously marked with red and white tape. It’s quite colourful really. I’ve not tested to see how sticky it is.

 

[OldCodger]

We are due to be In Portugal beginning of May, will they still be around, few web sites have said April they clear up but not sure if it’s subject to the weather they have before hand??

We’ve been told they are a risk till the end of March in Pt. But they live live in Pine or Cedar trees so if theres none around, you should be ok

Pine processionary - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[csd4t]

We’ve been told they are a risk till the end of March in Pt. But they live live in Pine or Cedar trees so if theres none around, you should be ok

Pine processionary - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Come March ish they have dropped out of the trees and bury themselves in the soil where they pupate and emerge as harmless processionary moths. In most touristy areas they go round and spray the nests to kill the caterpillars before they drop

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[Reallyretired]

We have found them in France in March so not just a Spanish problem.
There is also variety that likes Oak trees.

 

[sltgapper]

We have found them in France in March so not just a Spanish problem.
There is also variety that likes Oak trees.

These are also a growing problem in the Uk.

 

[hadders]

We saw quite a lot in southern France last month and Northern Spain around Girona. In France, we saw some pines that had a bag with a sort of spiral track which we presumed were to catch the critters. Always looking at the pines when we travel and park up!

 

[Minxy]

We were at Miami Platja/l'Hospitalet de l'infant (between Tortosa and Cambrils) a couple of days ago and they were already processing in the small picnic area there, we got away from them asap before our pooches saw them.

 

[hadders]

We were at Miami Platja/l'Hospitalet de l'infant (between Tortosa and Cambrils) a couple of days ago and they were already processing in the small picnic area there, we got away from them asap before our pooches saw them.

View attachment 714019

Great picture - very brave!

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[burtonbird]

When we lived in South West France we always kept a spray bottle full of petrol. At the first sign of a procession a quick spray along the line then a match to the end. Not much in the great plan but very satisfying!

 

[Minxy]

When we lived in South West France we always kept a spray bottle full of petrol. At the first sign of a procession a quick spray along the line then a match to the end. Not much in the great plan but very satisfying!

Ooo ... Caterpillar BBQ ... I bet they taste like chicken!

 

[bobandjanie]

Just to bring it to the top again, been out in the Jalon valley today came across three lines of cattapillers, so don't let you guard down, eagle eyed Janie leads the way making sure the paths clear, our Izzy is very good at sitting on her heels, and waits with me on the path while Janie wanders picking wild asparagus. Bob.

 

[pampam]

Urgh im not keen on them at all

 

[Reallyretired]

When we lived in South West France we always kept a spray bottle full of petrol. At the first sign of a procession a quick spray along the line then a match to the end. Not much in the great plan but very satisfying!

I'm sure you'd be popular in a dry forest.
I did wonder if a gas blow lamp might be appropriate, it would presumably burn off the dangerous hairs.

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[glastry]

For information of dog owners travelling in portugal, yesterday we saw these caterpilars
In the tavira and castro marim area,and again today on the cycle paths at Quarteira!
They seem to be quite prolific near trees,maybe the weather suits them this year?

 

[OldCodger]

For information of dog owners travelling in portugal, yesterday we saw these caterpilars
In the tavira and castro marim area,and again today on the cycle paths at Quarteira!
They seem to be quite prolific near trees,maybe the weather suits them this year?

Friends here in Tomar (central Portugal) told us they had two nests in Pine trees in their garden . (1km away). He covered up cut the nests off the tree and burnt them. He said they bug… gers were firing their darts as he did so.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

He said they bug… gers were firing their darts as he did so.

Got Ninja caterpillars now, how much worse can it get

 

[bellabee]

There were loads of them at Capbreton, last week. It was OK on the aire, but we saw plenty on the pavements when we walked into town.

 

[Jackd]

Got Ninja caterpillars now, how much worse can it get

H2R Ninja’s?

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