BEWARE - DANGER - Caterpillars

Storm



Joined: 03/03/2009
Posts: 240

Message Posted:
24/03/2010 16:19

This is definitely what my friends dog, Rodney, had and I am sure he would have died if they hadn't got to the vets in time.... we have seen the caterpillars and the nests.



Thankfully another month and we should be fine!



This should be passed onto as many dog/cat owners as possible as we obviously have them in North Cyprus .



http://insects.suite101.com/article.cfm/the-dangerous-pine-processionary-caterpillar

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
24/03/2010 16:28

thank you for the info, will be extra vigaliant now x

Tootie


Joined: 28/08/2008
Posts: 2037

Message Posted:
24/03/2010 16:31

I have seen loads of these nests when walking the Animal.

Thanks.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
24/03/2010 16:32

Lots of the nests in Pine Trees near us. I take it these are not the same as the piles of caterpillars that we see on the ground? I don't let the dog near these either.

Tootie


Joined: 28/08/2008
Posts: 2037

Message Posted:
24/03/2010 16:35

The ones I have seen look just the same as this: http://www.theleader.info/media/images/articles/14432.jpg

Storm



Joined: 03/03/2009
Posts: 240

Message Posted:
24/03/2010 16:39

Obviously they do drop to the ground - I have seen them when out walking - urgh - horrible.

swannee7


Joined: 21/08/2009
Posts: 394

Message Posted:
24/03/2010 17:51

Having looked at the picture/article on these 'processionary caterpillars' [provided by Storm (msg.1), the toxic white hairs on these caterpillars are clearly visible in the picture Tootie (msg.5) provided. The Troodos area in the 'old days,' with its abundant growth of pine & fir trees , was a nesting hotbed for these creatures in early Spring and I can remember seeing the 'processionaries' and other species of caterpillar that thrived up there. The caterpillars are quite small and without their toxic follicles, would be totally defenceless. Also, by nose-to-tailing they provide an illusion to would-be predators of a much larger creature! To see them en-masse isn't a pretty sight, I agree, and animals should definitely not get up close & personal!

dolphin17


Joined: 11/06/2009
Posts: 40

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 21:16

my husband was sweeping under the pine trees a couple of days ago and ended up with a dreadful rash from these little blighters. he has been covering himself with aloe vera body lotion morning and night and it is now thankfully beginning to subside. he says says the rash is very itchy. our cypriot neighbour told us these caterpillars are very dangerous.

marcosthechef



Joined: 30/11/2009
Posts: 646

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 23:42

Thanx for that info storm, there are loads of these nests in the ground around my house, my dogs roam free and i wasnt aware of the danger

daisy dukes


Joined: 06/09/2008
Posts: 3815

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 00:27

Oh my lord! A couple of years ago, Poppy (my dog) woke me up really early...it was so early, that i pushed her away and went back to sleep. A couple of hours later i re-surfaced and the first thing i noticed was, my poor little Poppy had a face that had swollen to approximately 3 times it's normal size, and she was so so poorly!



A kind neighbour managed to rush us to the vets and he gave her a few shots and several hours later she was ok.



I have since discovered that it was due to one of these caterpillars...but because i didn't know what it was called i couldn't tell anyone what caused it. So thanks for everyone who looked for and found the culprit!!



You can imagine how awful i felt, knowing that she had probably woken me up to tell me she was in pain, and all i wanted to do was go back to sleep....now, if either of my dogs wake me up....i wake up!!



DD

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 00:41

At this rate my poor souls will be under house arresr, Im scared after the demiss of BJ now this, but I thank you for making us aware xxxxxx

dublinderm


Joined: 26/09/2009
Posts: 538

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 01:16

Hi all,



I remember as part of the UN Rambling Club in spring 1998 a young officer in the 1st Royal Tank Regiment (1 RTR) being temporarily blinded from contact with these caterpillars in the low Troodos.



They should be taken very seriously and with caution.



DD

R.C.T.Man.



Joined: 27/03/2009
Posts: 746

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 07:30

Thanks Marlene we will keep our wits about us now . xx

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 13:48

We have 2 young pine trees in the garden - both had one of these nests of caterpillars. At first, when I spotted one, I thought it was a 'Banana Spider' cocoon. Trying to haul it out with the garden rake was impossible, so I had to cut off the branch it was attached to. On inspecting it, once on the patio tiles, something appeared to be moving around inside it. The cocoon, about 20cm/8" long, was a silvery coloured, matted web that was so fibrous, it was impossible to break open with a stick, so I ended up cutting it open with the garden shears. Inside, was a mass of writhing 3.5cm long, brown caterpillars, and even more bizarre was that they were living in a mass of their own excrement.



It seems that these devils are nocturnal, because close and careful inspection of both pine trees revealed not one caterpillar - either feeding or static.



How to get rid of them?

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 13:49

Cont'd:



I found that the simplest method was to douse the job lot with petrol and set fire to it. I did the same with the second 'nest'.



That stopped the beggars 'swearing in church'!

roblyn


Joined: 21/11/2008
Posts: 144

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 14:23

Thankyou so much for your post.Forwarned is forarmed