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Pine Processionary Caterpillar - A Dog's Cautionary Tail

Poisonous for pets and mild to sever skin rashes in humans. Find out what the Spanish Pine Processionary Caterpillar is and how to protect pets and humans

Updated: Nov 16, 2024 by: Barcelona Travel Hacks Views: 141

Introduction to Pine Processionary Caterpillar

Residents and visitors to Spain need to be aware of the Pine Processionary Caterpillar (Thaumetopoea Pityocampa), known in Spanish as the Oruga Procesionari de Pino, especially if you take pets for walks in parks near cities or go hiking with children and pets, or are near or underneath pine trees which often back the beaches of Spain.

These caterpillars are covered with stinging hairs that can cause mild to severe allergies when they come into contact with human and animal skin. which makes them harmful to young children and adults and sometimes fatal to dogs and cats.

In this article I will explain what Processionary Caterpillar's are, symptoms of a sting, how to avoid them and precautions you should take when in nature in Spain.

What are Pine Processionary Caterpillars

Pine Processionary Caterpillars are usually around three to four centimetres (2 inches) long, with a warm yellow, orange, or brown colour. Their bodies are covered in millions of hairs which function as tiny poison barbs to protect themselves.

They hatch from eggs (normally in Spring) laid in large spiders web like nests that are found clinging between the needle leaves of pine trees. They build a nest which they use as a base while foraging on the pine trees until they are big enough to crawl down the tree to the ground where they form up into a chain (of up to two metres/yards in length) of caterpillars (hence the processionary name) to walk across the ground in search of an underground hide to mature into moths.

Pine Processionary Caterpillars will nest in loose rocks or soil digging themselves down to form cocoons to mature into a moth. Studies of pine processionary caterpillars has shown that they travel long distances at night to feed on pine trees far from their nests, even in freezing temperatures. They also travel during daylight in long chains.

The mature Moth flies out, usually in autumn to eventually fly up in the pine trees and lay their eggs. Each individual moth can lay around 300 eggs in the sticky mass fastened to a pine needles.

The pine processionary caterpillar does not have many predators, but there are a few bird species that enjoy them for a snack and can be a very damaging species for pine forests when the caterpillars consume many of the pine needle leaves.

Habitat of the Processionary Caterpillars in Spain

    Processionary caterpillars can be found in pine forests, or mixed tree forests that have pines, in Spain .
  • Coastal (litoral) areas behind beaches and rocky coastline
  • Golf courses where there are pine trees
  • Lower slopes of mountains where pine forests are abundant
  • Private and public gardens and parks with pine trees

Processionary caterpillars are most prolific in spring although can be found from December through to march depending on the temperature. They can also be seen in summer in some high mountain pine forests.

Why are Processionary Caterpillars so Dangerous?

It is when they are in caterpillar format and walking across the ground where they are most dangerous because of their accessibility to humans and pets.

The millions of hairs of the pine processionary caterpillar contain a protein called Thaumetopoein, which in small doses can create a rash on humans that is similar to what you get when stung by a nettle. in extreme cases it can present severe skin rashes and inflammation. The hairs are like darts which detach from the caterpillar to lodge in the victim.

For dogs (and cats) the toxic hairs can cause issues when they come into direct contacts with a nose or tongue and issues when they attach to the animals fur and are ingested while grooming.

Further, the hairs are poisonous even after the caterpillars are dead. If you see lines of them run over by cars on the road they still present a danger to humans and pets so do not tread in them and transport them on the soles of your shoes or let your pet sniff, lick or eat them. The hairs can also be shed when the caterpillars move over the ground.

The potential danger of pine processionary caterpillars should not be underestimated.

Precautions & Protections Against Pine Processionary Caterpillars

When walking in parks and gardens within towns and cities it is most likely that the council will take action to eliminate the caterpillars, although you can never assume that this is the case. In Barcelona the council undertakes measures to control processionary Caterpillars in city parks and gardens.

  1. Spring: Plastic collars around pine tree trunks prevent the caterpillar from descending from the tree to forage and mature into a moth. The plastic can be filled with water to drown caterpillars.
  2. Spring and Summer: Sprays and gels applied directly to the procession caterpillars on the ground that kill them.
  3. Summer and Autumn: light traps for moths. Extermination of the processionary moth and release of non harmful species.
  4. Summer: Dig around below trees to find and destroy the larvae wearing disposable or washable protective clothes and goggles.
  5. Early August: spray the trees with bacillus thureingensis, a biological treatment not harmful to humans and pets but produces an enzyme in the gut of the insect that stops its digestion and thus growth of the eggs to caterpillars.

The only way you can safely protect your dog from pine processionary caterpillars is to avoid taking it to pine forests with nests from the end of December until summer which in many parts if Spain is impossible.

Actions Upon Processionary Caterpillars Contact

Action to take when a human comes into contact with processionary caterpillars:

Humans can react in different ways to a processionary caterpillar. If you only get a mild reaction with a rash, it can often be enough with an antihistamine cream. But if you swell up, the pain is very strong, or you notice respiratory problems, you should seek a doctor as soon as possible.

If your child gets in touch with the pine processionary caterpillar, make sure you go to a doctor straight away. If the child has touched his or her mouth with an infected hand or put a caterpillar in the mouth, make sure you call the emergency number (122) directly so you can talk to a professional.

Emergencies for Your Pet

Search engine: Veterinario de emergencia en Barcelona para tratamiento de Oruga Procesionaria de Pino

Every pet owner has this list to hand and I am sharing it now with you. Some of the links below also have vet written advice about processionary caterpillars which are worth reading.

Elimination From Home or Business

If you find a Processionary catapillar nest on your property you should not attempt to remove it yourself but contact a professional elimination company.

Thanks for reading about Pine Processionary Caterpillar - A Dog's Cautionary Tail

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