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The season is "Late winter to early spring," but that will vary from year to year and region to region. I guess you're less likely to see them in May, but you might come across a nest or something. Forewarned is forearmed.Does anybody know how long their 'season' last? Are they gonna be around at the beginning of May?
For sure. There are even some colonies of these caterpillars in London. Warmer temperatures have allowed them to migrate northward.I’d imagine you could run into them on the CF, too.
I am pretty sure they will around at the beginning of May. When I first encountered these creatures here in southeast Germany I knew right away what they were BECAUSE I had read all the warnings about them in this or some other pilgrim forums!!Does anybody know how long their 'season' last? Are they gonna be around at the beginning of May?
Interesting... or downright yucky, maybe?Hmmm, we'll see what happensThanks for the interesting picture.
Ahaha, well, I'd say both.Interesting... or downright yucky, maybe?
In Germany there are pine trees, but we don't have the climate for those caterpillars (except close to the southwest border of Germany - Pfalz/Elsass/Freiburg, check here).I am pretty sure they will around at the beginning of May. When I first encountered these creatures here in southeast Germany I knew right away what they were BECAUSE I had read all the warnings about them in this or some other pilgrim forums!!
Correct, Sugargypsy. Thank you for the corrections! The spelling mistake (I did mean southwest) and the fact. I really was not reading carefully enough and was speaking of the different yucky caterpillar, the oak one. Anyway, you need to stay away from them as well!In Germany there are pine trees, but we don't have the climate for those caterpillars (except close to the southwest border of Germany - Pfalz/Elsass/Freiburg, check here).
But: Look out for oaks. We've got no Pine Processional Caterpillar, but sadly the
Oak Processionary Moth.
Problems and treatment as well seem to be similar. In Germany: Be careful at the beginning of May whereas the Pine Processiona Caterpillar starts in mid-April due to the higher temperature at that time in Spain (or Italy and Portugal).
Hi @Gabe_Way, I see that you are starting this May from SJPP. I've not seen them on the Camino Frances and don't know whether people encounter them there, be it the dangerous oak processionary caterpillars or or the equally dangerous pine processionary caterpillars. The forest around SJPP is beech trees, btw. Famously so actually.Does anybody know how long their 'season' last? Are they gonna be around at the beginning of May?
Ok, thanks. So, looks like May it'd be a better month in terms of processionary caterpillars. And beech trees shouldn't be a problem. The potentially harmful ones are the Pine's I guess.Hi @Gabe_Way, I see that you are starting this May from SJPP. I've not seen them on the Camino Frances and don't know whether people encounter them there, be it the dangerous oak processionary caterpillars or or the equally dangerous pine processionary caterpillars. The forest around SJPP is beech trees, btw. Famously so actually.
We've crossed path with them on the voie de Tours (Paris to SJPP), I think end of March, and there is currently a post on the forum of someone who is walking there, has been warned of them and encountered them, so that's around the same time in the same area.
But it all depends on region and weather.
Pine processionary caterpillars seem to create particularly bad reactions. But as people have pointed out, there are other caterpillars that can cause skin irritations.The potentially harmful ones are the Pine's I guess.
These look like the brown tail moth caterpillars here in the U.S. It's not a matter of a season. They molt, the hairs drift and those hairs remain problematic in leaf matter, lawns, forested areas for years! Likely the pharmacies there have their best practice approach stocked and ready. Here in Maine, Sarna lotion is one approach as well as Tecnu. Tecnu is a skin cleanser used for poison ivy and oak. It's best to keep covered up. My husband keeps his lawn mowing/garden clothes, which cover him from head to toe, in a bag in the garage. Putting items in the washing machine doesn't seem to remove the hairs, and I don't want to introduce them to other clothing items. The brown tails hit oak and apple trees here, but stay away from the pines. The rash and itching can be relentless and last for months, and those dealingDoes anybody know how long their 'season' last? Are they gonna be around at the beginning of May?
First time I saw these was in March 2013. I was absolutely fascinated by them but thankfully did not touch them. The lines crossing the path on the way out of Logrono were so many, I sat down on a bench to watch and then the cyclists came along. Lines were being devastated and I thought that was awful. Some time later when I found out how dangerous they were, I lost all sympathy for themIn spring you're likely to encounter Pine Processional Caterpillars. You might see their nests, which look like cotton candy / candy floss or you might see them on the move in a conga-line procession. (This photo is from a friend of mine who is walking in the south of Spain today).
You can find lots of information online about the Pine Processional Caterpillar:
Dangers of Pine Processionary Caterpillars - Wildside Holidays - Walking and Wildlife Holidays In Spain
The pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) Dangers of Pine Processionary Caterpillars whilst walking in pinewoods in Spainwildsideholidays.co.uk
If you come across these things, move away. Their hairs can cause severe irritation and potentially serious reactions.
- Don't handle them, even with gloves.
- Don't step on them. You might transport hairs on your shoes which could touch someone's skin later.
- Don't hang around near them. When they moult, the hairs can float in the air.
The advice that I have found in case you develop a rash is as follows. (If anyone has better advice, please contribute)..
- Remove contaminated clothing. Wrap it in a plastic bag.
- Use sticky tape to pick up hairs that may be on your skin
- Wash the affected area with water
- Seek medical attention
View attachment 53894Itchy caterpillars: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for itchy caterpillar stings in the Northern Territory.nt.gov.au
View attachment 53894
German has the best words.Eichenprozessionspinner
Thankyou so much for posting about this. On Mar 18 I came across some of the caterpillars alittle before Sahaghun, and two days later the welts started. I assumed I was having an allergic reaction to bedbugs but now I am certain that the welts were caused by the caterpillars (which I never touched directly) after researching images. I am in Santiago now and still using steroid cream for the itching though the swelling is down. I know several people with these symptoms but none were aware of the caterpillar toxins as the source.In spring you're likely to encounter Pine Processional Caterpillars. You might see their nests, which look like cotton candy / candy floss or you might see them on the move in a conga-line procession. (This photo is from a friend of mine who is walking in the south of Spain today).
You can find lots of information online about the Pine Processional Caterpillar:
Dangers of Pine Processionary Caterpillars - Wildside Holidays - Walking and Wildlife Holidays In Spain
The pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) Dangers of Pine Processionary Caterpillars whilst walking in pinewoods in Spainwildsideholidays.co.uk
If you come across these things, move away. Their hairs can cause severe irritation and potentially serious reactions.
- Don't handle them, even with gloves.
- Don't step on them. You might transport hairs on your shoes which could touch someone's skin later.
- Don't hang around near them. When they moult, the hairs can float in the air.
The advice that I have found in case you develop a rash is as follows. (If anyone has better advice, please contribute)..
- Remove contaminated clothing. Wrap it in a plastic bag.
- Use sticky tape to pick up hairs that may be on your skin
- Wash the affected area with water
- Seek medical attention
View attachment 53894Itchy caterpillars: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for itchy caterpillar stings in the Northern Territory.nt.gov.au
View attachment 53894
German has the best words.
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