It seems a harmless animal but nothing is further from the truth: the pine processionary caterpillar can even cause the death of a dog and seriously affect people . But what is the processionary? It is a caterpillar of about 4 cm in length, very hairy, that moves along the ground in groups, more specifically in single file, hence the nickname “processionary”.
These insects are very dangerous due to the 500,000 highly stinging hairs (trichomes) that cover their bodies and which they shed if they feel threatened. We are not exaggerating if we say that they are authentic toxic darts that in contact with the skin of pets and humans can produce from more or less serious local skin reactions to injuries to the eyes, skin, bronchi, severe anaphylaxis and necrosis of the tongue. of the dog . And be careful because not only contact with stinging hair can occur because it is touched directly by accident, but the wind can transport it.
The biological cycle of the processionary caterpillar
It all starts when, in summer, the processionary caterpillar butterfly lays its eggs in a pine tree (it can also do so in fir and cedars ). Later, the eggs hatch and the caterpillars remain during the cold months on the tree, inside a kind of protective bag known as a bag, which looks like a cotton ball . There they will feed without rest on the leaves of the tree (seriously damaging it if the pest is not eliminated in time) and will protect themselves from the cold. When they have matured they will descend through the bark of the affected tree. The descent in procession usually takes place around February and March but can vary according to the weather, and can start in January or last until April (this usually happens when the temperature is around 20 degrees. With climate change this condition occurs each time before ). The caterpillars go to an area where they can bury themselves to later become chrysalis and finally butterflies. They can travel up to 30 meters in search of a soft soil suitable for their purpose. It is at this time when they are so dangerous, especially for dogs, that they are always sniffing everything in their path.
Do not miss more interesting information about the processionary caterpillar, how to act in case the dog has contact with it, how to avoid it, how to detect that it has been hit by its stinging hair and more in the photo gallery below.
