Processional Caterpillars
May 25th 2007, 10:21 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Location: Blackpool
Posts: 178
Processional Caterpillars
I am a bit worried about these little monsters apparently if you see them you have to pour petrol on them and set them on fire as they are very dangerous to humans and especially animals and they live in hanging pine trees so I am told.
Anyone got any other info about them.
Anyone got any other info about them.
May 25th 2007, 10:30 am
#2
Fed up in England!!
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: kent
Posts: 1,041
Re: Processional Caterpillars
I've heard about these too. Apparently they are very dangerous to dogs as they shoot little spines out which get infected and can kill them.
I've been told if you have them they are in pine trees, they look like balls of cotton wool, you have to put a paper bag round them, pull them out of the tree then set light to the bag!
I've been told if you have them they are in pine trees, they look like balls of cotton wool, you have to put a paper bag round them, pull them out of the tree then set light to the bag!
May 25th 2007, 11:04 am
#3
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Re: Processional Caterpillars
I've heard about these too. Apparently they are very dangerous to dogs as they shoot little spines out which get infected and can kill them.
I've been told if you have them they are in pine trees, they look like balls of cotton wool, you have to put a paper bag round them, pull them out of the tree then set light to the bag!
I've been told if you have them they are in pine trees, they look like balls of cotton wool, you have to put a paper bag round them, pull them out of the tree then set light to the bag!
May 25th 2007, 11:14 am
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: conil de la frontera
Posts: 363
Re: Processional Caterpillars
They are usually around from Jan to March, and this year was particularly bad, I heard of at least 3 dogs which lost part of their tongues one of which was only a tiny puppy and lost part of the lips and it also affected the pads of the feet, if a dog licks or sniffs at them then they attack the tongue and quite often the dog can go into shock and die. If you see them then spray them with hairspray which will stop the hairs flying out before you do anything with them. Lots of children had very bad rashes when they were playing in the parks. The councils can spray the pine trees but dont want to because the birds get affected. They seem to be in the umbrella pines and those spindly straggly looking pines. We could only safely take our dogs to the beach during that period as they were in the pine trees near us.
May 25th 2007, 1:13 pm
#6
RETIRED ;-))
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Re: Processional Caterpillars
Two more links,,,,,, guess where 
May 25th 2007, 4:16 pm
#8
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
May 25th 2007, 4:32 pm
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 40
Re: Processional Caterpillars
friends of ours who live near peniscola lost their dog 3 months ago to these caterpillers.the vet tried to save him but his hair fell out ,then he developed sores all over his body and lost half his body weight he was a big dog too.however he died a month of being affected.
May 25th 2007, 6:59 pm
#10
Fed up in England!!
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: kent
Posts: 1,041
Re: Processional Caterpillars
Now I'M panicking!! The house we're buying has a lot of pine trees and I've got 2 dogs!!
May 25th 2007, 7:16 pm
#11
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Location: Blackpool
Posts: 178
Re: Processional Caterpillars
Chop the blighters down if they are hanging pines thats what the previous owners of the property we bought did and there has'nt been any since.
May 25th 2007, 7:30 pm
#12
Fed up in England!!
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: kent
Posts: 1,041
Re: Processional Caterpillars
I understood its illegal to cut down pine trees?
May 25th 2007, 7:33 pm
#13
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Location: Blackpool
Posts: 178
Re: Processional Caterpillars
If they are on yr own land I dont think it is but not sure ours were growing on our plot inside our front gates and we are on the mountain so no one ever comes up there, thankfully
May 25th 2007, 7:35 pm
#14
RETIRED ;-))
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Re: Processional Caterpillars
Keep your eye on the sky, for police helicoptors and planes. ;-)
May 25th 2007, 7:45 pm
#15
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Location: Blackpool
Posts: 178
Re: Processional Caterpillars
ooooh yes please will they have uniforms on