Processionary Caterpillars in Portugal

Pine Processionary Caterpillars (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) are found in all Mediterranean climatic areas ranging from Portugal to Croatia and care should be taken if you encounter them. French naturalist Jean Henri Fabre gave the caterpillars their common name, after he observed them moving, nose to tail in a procession.

The caterpillars have poisonous and irritant brittle hairs on their bodies. In adults these hairs can cause severe skin irritations and occasionally anaphylactic shock – closure of airways. Children and the elderly, whom have less resistance, can be more severely affected. Medical assistance should be sought should you have a close encounter with the caterpillars.

The caterpillars have a bittersweet smell and both cats and dogs will attempt to eat them. Unfortunately this will almost certainly be fatal. One, if eaten, can be deadly for a cat and three or four will kill a medium-sized dog. The reaction to the poison also causes necrosis of the animal’s tongue and by the time the owner notices the problem it is usually too late for veterinary treatment to do anything but ease the animal’s suffering.

The processionary caterpillars are a mottled brown colour with faded yellowish spots. They build nests, which resemble balls of white candyfloss, high in the branches of Pine trees. They leave the nests at night, in procession fashion, as night, to feed. In Portugal pine trees in public places are generally sprayed, then the nests are dislodged with poles and then they are burnt.

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