These caterpillars are characterized by being covered with stinging hairs that make them a real danger of nature.. The processionary pine caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) is usually three to four centimetres long, brown and hairy. A road trip through Spain and Portugal. Sometimes placed in the genus Traumatocampa, it is one of the most destructive species to pines and cedars in Central Asia, North Africa and the countries of southern Europe. When Facebook became flooded with warnings from vets, wildlife lovers and pet owners from across the lengths and width of Portugal. The 5th stage caterpillars, after reaching their full development, leave the nests and head in procession (hence the name Processionary Caterpillars) towards the ground, where they bury themselves to move on to the next stage of pupation or chrysalis and evolve into the adult insect that emerges in summer, thus completing its annual cycle. When we got home, I googled caterpillars and dogs out of curiosity and my Google search results lit up like a Christmas tree with people’s horror stories (mostly in Spain & Portugal) of their dogs DYING after coming into contact with these pine processionary caterpillars. If you live in southern Europe, at certain times of the year, usually starting December/ January, you will notice what seems to be a silky white nest of what could be cotton wool high up in a pine tree. These mini beasts can cause blindness and terrible allergic reactions in humans. The poisonous hairs of these horrible creatures cause allergic reactions in humans and other mammals. Pine Processionary Caterpillars The title may sound a little dramatic even OTT, but in truth these cute and harmless-looking caterpillars pose a real danger to people and pets. The Portuguese for caterpillar is lagarta. Unfortunately the pine processionary (Thaumetopoea pityocampa), aka the processionary caterpillar, likes the Algarve too. The name of processionary is given to him because he tends to carry out a serpentine procession of many of these caterpillars. The processionary, also called the pine processionary caterpillar, is a worm that lives and attacks coniferous plants such as pine.. Read more: An ultimate guide to Portugal with kids. The processionary pine caterpillar season starts this month. A 7 day itinerary through the Algarve. (They’re called ‘pine processionary’ because they walk through the woods in a nose-to-tail procession). Processionary Caterpillars. Depending on weather conditions, the toxic, hairy caterpillars which inhabit pine trees usually climb down them and onto the ground between January and April. Dogs living in pinewood areas are also frequently exposed to the caterpillar. The insects are highly dangerous to small children and animals and … I must thank the various holiday companies for helping with some of the technical information, writes Jan Cobley. In recent years, adverse reactions reports in humans following contact with T. pityocampa have been increasingly reported. So you have spotted the nests of the pine processionary caterpillar in the pine trees in, or near your garden,and want to know how to get rid of them, safely. The pine processionary caterpillar are throughout Europe but we spotted them in Portugal and had a less than positive meeting with them. The pine processionary (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) is a moth of the subfamily Thaumetopoeinae in the family Notodontidae.The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775. Beware - processionary caterpillars pose danger to humans and pets I have searched the books and net, to come up with more comprehensive information on them. Since moving to Portugal I have developed an unexplained desire to learn more about the insects I find in our garden. Our first introduction to the Processionary caterpillar was early in February. The pine processionary caterpillar, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, is considered an emerging pine pest in Mediterranean countries, with high medical relevance. An ultimate guide to the Algarve with kids.
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