Processional Caterpillars

sophie · Post by **sophie** » Fri 20 Mar 2015 8:03 am

Please don't think they have gone away yet. A line of them traipsed across our drive yesterday. Fortunately we spotted them before the dogs did.

Hippocampus · Post by **Hippocampus** » Fri 20 Mar 2015 6:50 pm

I have just removed a nest from the fir tree on our property and burnt it, so I know what they look like, dark green and brown, about two inches long, fat and hairy. But I have also come across little heaps of jet black ones, shorter and thinner, on the ground well away from any fir trees. Can anybody tell me whether these are dangerous too?

Becker · Post by **Becker** » Fri 20 Mar 2015 10:10 pm

If they are on the ground,whether near fir trees or not,black furry things resembling a moving cow pat, then yes they are these dreadful thingies. Rarely fat & 5cm long,more accurate 2.5 cm long. Lots about at moment. Absolute nightmare to dogs & cats alike.

Groucho · Post by **Groucho** » Sat 21 Mar 2015 6:22 am

Becker wrote:If they are on the ground,whether near fir trees or not,black furry things resembling a moving cow pat, then yes they are these dreadful thingies. Rarely fat & 5cm long,more accurate 2.5 cm long. Lots about at moment. Absolute nightmare to dogs & cats alike.

I think the ones on the ground in a writhing mass are not in fact the processional variety as they are not the ones from nests in pine trees. There is another variety of moth that lays its eggs under a web-like shroud on the ground - the caterpillars' bristles might still be irritating to pets.

Once the processional ones leave the tree in long lines they don't muster back into a heap (to my knowledge) as this would be counter to the survival strategy of dispersing. We see the crows and magpies making a feast of the ones in large masses on the ground.