Instinctively on seeing this bundle of hairy caterpillars I knew not to touch them, they are processionary caterpillars and they are dangerous.
They are covered in millions of sharp fine needle like hairs that are very brittle.
If that isn't bad enough, these hairs contain a protein that causes an allergic reaction in most people, resulting in a hive like rash.
Sometimes contact with them can cause respiratory problems, plus if the hairs get into the eyes they can cause blindness as the hairs have tiny barbs making it difficult to remove them.
They are also extremely hazardous to grazing animals, especially pregnant horses.
If a pregnant mare mistakenly eats one of these caterpillars, she will abort her unborn foal. Apparently in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, where sadly hundreds of foals have been lost to these caterpillars.
They are called processionary caterpillars as they follow each other head to tail when searching for food. They can often get confused and will go around and around in a circle looking for food they will never find, ending up in a jumbled mess.
Eventually these will turn into a bag-shelter moth and after mating they will die.
This is because they are unable to feed, as the bag-shelter moths have no mouth...
2 comments:
Did you actually see some of these and how did you know all that? Amazing.
I noticed them on Wednesday while on a walk.
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