DOG WALKERS BEWARE!!! - Page 2

Hi 'n Merry Xmas. I like your "teaching your dogs to learn". Mine, sadly deceased, now, were told NO! They lived in & near the pine-trees, & kept well away, until they left me after 14 yrs.(natural causes)! Incidentally, 19 yrs ago, I stupidly strung my washing line under the pines. Never more. I'll not explain about the "hairs" & where they "went". Have a good day👍👈. V

There is a mine of information regarding these creatures on this forum by searching "Processionary"

above "What are you looking for?" costa blanca.

I have lived amongst the Pines for 38 years, and have first-hand experience with dogs (not my own ), that have been seriously hurt, and very often put down, because of contact with processionary caterpillars. As I pointed out, I found, and destroyed 3 nests of them here, and most of the British, and other European folk I spoke to about them, didn't have a clue as to what they are, or why they are such deadly, yet innocuous-looking, to the innocent eye, insects.

My point, which you have quoted above, was exactly this: if they don't have a clue as to what they are, where they live, and what they look like...why would they search a Forum for information? IMHO, it made complete sense to draw innocent attention to the current dangers we all could encounter on our walks with our dogs right now, and during the coming months. I made sure to provide links, as well as my own description.

I thank you for your kind thanks for having thought to post this.

'Most people know about these thankfully and villas is correct.'

Dear oh dear..MOST PEOPLE DON'T NEED THIS INFORMATION...BUT, APPARENTLY THERE ARE MANY WHO DO...AND IT WAS FOR THEIR BENEFIT I POSTED THIS VITAL INFORMATION. JEEESH...DUMB COMMENTS. BYE.

Where we are there are hundreds of the bloody things.  We have cut and burnt (I exagerate not) 6 100ltr bin bags full of the buggers.  If everyone with a cat or dog made it a personal rule that they would cut and destroy 50 nests then the problem might start to diminish.  It is every pet owners duty to do something.

Agree!. (Not sure of their sexual preference😃). I've mentioned (before) for the high-up nests, with access to an air-rifle, three holes allows a parasite, prevents death before decent. Those in-line, a simple insecticide stops them in tracks. Yes (dumb) ideas above, maybe, all those with ideas to reduced pest reduction's help. (PS.....the "hoopoe" bird love them. Thanks Bikerman👍. V.

A Spanish friend of mine who is a vet explained that up until quite recently, they used to crop spray the pine trees, but were forced to stop because of "environmental issues" meaning that every year the problem gets worse and worse. I've heard mixed reports about the effectiveness of shooting the nests and we, who have over 50 pine trees and dogs and cats, have always put a ring of thick grease around the trunks of the trees and waited for the nests to descend, where they all bunch up because they don't want to cross the grease to get down to the bottom. It's a pain, because you have to keep checking the trees at regular intervals, but we've found it to be an effective way to deal with them. When they are all bunched up, we spray them with hairspray - (makes them more flamable and harder for them to expel the hairs), pick them off with a long stick and burn them. You need to be very well covered up, (hats, glasses, scarves, gloves etc.). It's a horrible job and I hate killing anything, but what's the choice?

If your animals do come into contact with them, you need to get them to the vets STRAIGHT AWAY. Any delay can prove fatal. The good news is that if you do get them to the vets and treated quickly, the treatment is usually effective. Hope this helps?

what do the nests look like please am moving to an area with a fair amount of pine trees, are fir trees affected as they are a similar genus? thanks monica.

https://www.google.com/search?q=CATERPILLAR+NESTS+IN+SPAIN&sxsrf=ACYBGNQc1lBDSbIyLebyIt24ogqNDiYWhQ:1577467033864&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=sbEtOWsGwtc0WM%253A%252CFhyNn81xJoZxdM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kRfseldDcVEupPJrgyC5r3Q_9kTmA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwid4MrRqtbmAhWUDmMBHSKOD1cQ9QEwA3oECAoQBg#imgrc=sbEtOWsGwtc0WM:

Yuck.

Never heard of them infecting Fir trees. Would be interested to know if anyone has seen that.

 Our very good  (OP) explains (some? thinks dumb). worth reading & being aware.

V

MANY THANX MONICA