HAIRY CATERPILLAR - BEWARE!

There's an article in the Amateur Gardening Magazine about the caterpillar of the Oak Processionary Moth which is quite alarming regarding it's effect on you should you come into contact with it,

"Caterpillar of the OPM are are menace to public health. Each 20-25mm bug is covered with 700,000 toxic hairs. The hairs easily penetrate clothes, causing skin irritation for up to a month. Other symptoms including vomiting, dizziness and fever. In France it's reported that people have been blinded by OPM after it's hairs came into contact with eyes.

Caterpillar hairs remain toxic for 5 years. Hairs are blown from trees and contaminate soil and grass. The pest is so serious in Belgium that 30,000 moths were caught in just one night using traps."

This definitely looks like some thing to beware of as it has come over from Europe and hot-spotted in London. It has now "broken out" of London and is in Reading, Sheffield and Leeds to mention a few.
It you see a hairy caterpillar DONT pick it up!

 

Just re-reading the article, Sheal. Here's some other bits from the article:

"The only possible way to eradicate OPM is to cut donw all oaks, and that isn't going to happen, said Henry Kuppen, who has pioneered caterpillar treatment in Holland.
Moths are airborne between July and September. They commonly spread along rivers and railway lines.
Tree expert Mark Townsend said OPM survived extended freezing. There is no notion that cold winters will solve the problem - it will survive.
Council tree managers met last week to discuss the crisis. One described the FCs move as unbelievable [the Forestry Commission said that it no longer possible to enforce eradication in the London outbreak zone]. Another said It's a recipe for failure, a major threat to human health, and to the London Olympics"


I'll be watching out for any hairy caterpillars this year, I guess

 

I said we shouldn't have joined the European Community!

Seriously, if people were more aware of the problem we might be able to contain it better. A knowledge of the appearance of the moth and the caterpillar would help the general public keep an eye out for it.

The moth defoliates oaks and this is likely to be the first noticeable symptom. I keep a sharp eye out for them when I am walking in oak woods as they are more likely to be prevalent when there are a lot of oaks together.

 

Actually, when I first read the article two names "appeared" in my mind - Fluffy and Miraflores!!!:D

Sheal is right, we do seem to be dealing with one pest after another. The problem seems to be that we're "importing" creatures of all genus into the country via various means. If you made a list of all the "new" creatures that have taken up residence in the UK in the last 20 years you would get a shock at just how high that number is

This particular pest [OPM] looks to be quite a dis-proportionally nasty beast with regard to it's size. I've never had any real problems in coming into contact with "beasties" during my gardening life. But I think basic caution has always stopped me from picking anything up. especially hairy things, until I knew exactly what it was. The problem to this it that maybe more "panicky" people might have a knee-jerk reaction and kill anything that moves in the garden - and we don't want or need that.

 

That's good to hear, Miraflores! I take it we're not allowed to call you "Fluffy" from now on!:D??

 

Just as a word of warning, the OPM caterpillar has been found in outbreaks occurring in Pangbourne, Berkshire and five West London boroughs.

Latest advice from the Health Protection Agency is "We strongly advise people not to approach the caterpillars or their nests because of the health risks. Pets can also be affected and should be kept away. Anyone who experiences an itchy skin rash or other allergic symptoms after being near Oak trees should consult their GP's.
The public must not try to remove caterpillars or nests themselves. These jobs need to be perfectly timed and are best done by specially trained and equipped operators."