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Warning ! Chenilles season

Posted: Tue 10 Mar 2009 12:25
by rbg
Those pesky little buggers are back once again ... keep an eye out for these dangerous caterpillars. For those of you who hven't seen them before , click on this link :

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processionnaire_du_pin

They build their nests in Pine trees and then make a procession to their source of food.

We visited a friend's house on Sun for a bbq ~ the children were playing in the garden , oblivious to the fact the the little "petits serpents" ( as my 3 year old called them) were about. Even though no-one touched them, we are all leper-like at the moment with itchy spots, rashes and runny noses.
The boys got to work clearing the garden of them at the time ( with gloves and long sleeved shirts) yet they still managed to infect us! Be warned!

Posted: Tue 10 Mar 2009 16:34
by Kate
A little bit more about them here
http://www.anglophone-direct.com/Pine-P ... terpillars?
if you have never noticed them before.
As rbg says, nasty little blighters (gosh, that sounded oh so British!!)

Posted: Tue 10 Mar 2009 16:38
by sue and paul
Do be on the look-out. Yesterday I parked my car near the Poste in the centre of the village. The only tree nearby was a scalped plane tree (ie not a pine), but on the pavement were a whole bunch of processionary pine caterpillars. I can only think that someone had dumped them there. I have been badly affected by them in the past with the sort of affliction described here, and they are particularly harmful to animals, especially dogs

Posted: Tue 10 Mar 2009 16:51
by Roger O
I already mentioned it last year!
The only sure way to destroy them on the ground, of course, without touching them
with any tool or noxious spray is a hand held gas blowtorch!!
Image or the camping Gaz version Image
They are very cheap in practically all DIY shops!
20-30 euros and refills cost 1 to 1.20 each.
Make sure you buy one with pizzo lighter!!
1 refill should last the whole season - unless you have more
than 2 umbrella pines in your garden!
This method burns the hairs too before they can fly off and
be breathed in or get in your clothes, etc.

If they are climbing the tree trunk - still within arm's reach from the ground,
first spray them with water - using a very fine spray as for indoor
plants. This waterlogs the hairs.
If you're lucky, they will also curl up
and fall on the ground = torch em. If not, dislodge them with a long stick
or similar onto the ground = torch em.

Posted: Tue 10 Mar 2009 17:25
by Kathy
Hairspray makes the hair stick together and is flammable. Hubby just throws on acetone then slings on a lit match. Cruel I know, but necessary unfortunately.

Posted: Tue 10 Mar 2009 18:04
by Roger O