Processional Caterpillars

[sophie]

BEWARE!! It is much earlier in the year than usual, but they are starting to appear. One of our members was walking their dogs today and they are all over the place on Diana Beach. If they are there, then they'll be coming out all over the place. I bang on about these every year, but please keep a very careful eye open for them on your walks and in your gardens, because they are very dangerous to cats, dogs and humans. They breed in cocoons and hang from trees (usually pine/fir) until they come down to ground level.

The symptoms are very obvious and animals need to be taken to a Vet immediately. For those who have not come across these horrors and don't know what they look like, please check them out on Google, Yahoo or whatever, but please take them seriously.

[Owl Lady]

Thanks for the warning Sophie. I will look tomorrow in day light. None last week when I looked, but it is really early!!!!

[WotNoDeeds]

Processional Caterpillars

[Owl Lady]

Thanks for the pics,they are really nasty little b-----rs.

[Keithcaley]

I remember seeing a warning to use gardening gloves, long sleeves and trousers, and a face mask if handling or burning the cocoons or caterpillars themselves - so really, you are better off avoiding contact altogether if you can!

[sophie]

Its the animals that suffer the most. Apparently they can give off a sweet smell and dogs in particular are attracted to them. One of mine last year just touched one momentarily, immediately her tongue and throat were swollen and she couldn't breath. It took at least 10 days of daily drips and other treatment to save her. Necrosis sets in so she lost a chunk of her tongue (it turned black then died off - the dog usually swallows the dead flesh!) The inside of her cheek did the same. There were 4 other dogs at Petcross having the same treatment. One dog died because I suspect it actually bit into and possibly swallowed pieces of the caterpillar. It's the hairs/spines covering the caterpillar that transmit the toxin. I have seen a procession over 10ft long on one occasion. Burning is the best way to destroy them. They are getting worse because their natural enemies are birds, and we all know what's happening to them in the TRNC.

[surfmeetseast]

Sophie , I have never seen these, what areas have you seen them in please? I am worried as have loads of dogs we walk in the mountains, not many pine trees there but......

[Owl Lady]

I have only seen them in my pine trees and in the forest pines.

[Gumbo]

Walking in the mountains yesterday past Esentepe football stadium a large cocoon was seen. No more walking our dog there for a while. Take care everyone.

[Art]

Great work by everyone!

No more mountain walks for a few weeks now.

[foodie]

Thank you for the warning Sophie and everyone for their input. Where is Diana beach please as we live main road Alsancak and my husband takes our dog to different beaches for a run.

[karmels]

This is the pine moth and they destroy the pine trees.

[sophie]

Foodie, I can't be exact, but its in the Cratos, Malpas area I believe. Yes, they do destroy pines and up until 4 years or so ago the Government used to send up a helicopter to spray the mountain areas, but after the crash they haven't done it again. I spoke to a Government Forestry official in 2013 and he reckoned that without spraying, pines in huge swathes could be decimated in 25 years or thereabouts. A pine that has been attacked will have patches of brown dying pines all over it. Sometimes because of the weight and number of caterpillars the cocoons will open up and hundreds and hundreds of caterpillars drop to the ground, leaving a black squelchy patch on the ground. (this is what happened to us) Other times they will just process down the tree in question.

[cjtill]

Foodie, Diana beach is next to the old Coca Cola factory in Catalkoy. The caterpillars were on the dirt roads behind the beach.

[carrierbag]

How long can we expect them to be around? What is their life span?

[Keithcaley]

I don't know very much about these, but I believe that, in any given area, they tend to all appear within a fairly short time - it could be that some places are more exposed or sheltered, which may affect the timing.

Once they are 'on the move' I think that they quite quickly find somewhere (underground?) to start the process that will eventually turn them into moths, some months (or years?) later, so they don't seem to hang around too long in their 'processionary form'.

A couple of years ago, I noticed a lot of them on the roads leading down to Camelot Beach, but after a few days, the numbers diminished, and a week later there was no sign of them.

I hope this helps, but if anyone knows more, - do tell!

[waddo]

I was up in the mountains above Bacheli today and they are out there as well! First time I have seen them in nests on the ground as well so watch where you put your feet. They look like dense spiders nests on the ground and normally roundish white/grey nests naming from the pine branches! Right now they seem to be forming up in large bunches not yet on the move, but it won't be long so look out for them and keep your dogs safe!

[sophie]

Not wanting to be the bearer of anymore doom and gloom, but here is my final word of warning. Occasionally a few of them "go off piste" as it were and leave the procession to do their own thing, so if you are in the vicinity of a pine tree and your dog starts to snuffle round amongst dead pine needles or soil, please drag them away. One caterpillar is all it needs. Chris Elliot of Cypruscene has put a video of them on the move for all to see.

[Owl Lady]

Checked trees when this was first posted. Checked yesterday now 15 days on, I can see 5 nests at least. Couldn't be any higher up the tree if they tried!! Hopefully to be removed at the weekend, the sooner the better.

[surfmeetseast]

Have seen tons of these now along the road from Titanic to kayalar. We stopped to look, and the caterpillars are moving around the outside of the cocoons. Did not see any on the ground, did not hang around too long to look!
I can see 2 cocoons in a single pine tree by an empty house behind us, so have stopped taking the dogs that way.
I think that they must turn into pupae for the moth in March? That's why these 2 months are the dangerous time

[Owl Lady]

Most of mine were removed this afternoon, one impossible to reach, so think he is coming back with a longer pole and cutter. Health and Safety at work would have had a fit !!!!My heart was in my mouth. In the UK would have needed a letter from on high to get the scaffolding up, if allowed? My gardener shinned up the tree like a monkey, no harness, safety belt, hard hat. No gloves, black polly bag(which I provided) and good bye!!

[Owl Lady]

Came back today and still impossible to reach. What will happen now?. The one nest remaining is hanging over the ravine, will they still be a problem?

[Owl Lady]

bttt