Oak and pine processionary caterpillars:
Don't let your dog or cat near a procession or nest of processionary caterpillars.
Their hairs are stinging on contact:
-cutaneous
-oral
-ocular
-respiratory
This causes local irritation and allergic reactions that can be fatal.
Danger and symptoms:
Redness, itching, inflammation, local or mucous membrane burns (nose, tongue, lips, eyes).
If contact is made with the mouth, the animal quickly drools, scratches and may vomit.
edema and necrosis (which may lead to partial removal of the tongue).
Allergic shock called anaphylactic shock (affects breathing). Choking, coma, death.
The right reflexes:
-Call veterinary emergency services:
Immediately in the event of contact (or your veterinarian if he or she is readily available).
Tip: save numbers before you run into trouble!
-Rinse thoroughly:
The affected area with water + baking soda if the emergency room is not nearby, then go to the emergency room without delay.
-Avoid letting the dog swallow water containing stinging hairs.
Regions affected:
Pine processionaries are found around the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coast as far as the Pyrénées-Orientales.
Alsace, Bourgogne, Centre, Ile-de-France, Midi-Pyrénées and Poitou-Charentes for the oak processionary.
But the caterpillar invasion continues to spread. In recent years, cases have been reported in the Paris region. Once confined to the south of France, the caterpillar plague now threatens the whole country.
Period:
February to May
The cycle of its life:
The female lays her eggs in a pine tree, and as soon as they hatch, the caterpillars weave the cocoon where they spend the winter. As early as February (and sometimes even earlier), processions begin towards the ground, where they undergo metamorphosis. When they emerge from the chrysalis, the adults will only live 24 hours, enough time to reproduce.
The stinging hairs are very fragile and release a substance known as "thaumetopoeïne", causing oedema and violent allergies.
