Potentially dangerous to health, processionary caterpillars are the subject of a new HCSP opinion.
- The HCSP (High Council for Public Health) has issued new directives concerning processionary caterpillars of oak and pine.
- Contact with these animals can in fact cause several health problems.
- Established for several years in France, oak and pine processionary caterpillars live in groups in nests attached to trees.
The HCSP (High Council for Public Health) has issued new directives concerning processionary caterpillars of oak and pine which can cause health problems.
Processionary caterpillar: what does the HCSP say?
“The General Directorate of Health has submitted for the opinion of the HCSP a draft decree and a draft order on the fight against processionary caterpillars of oak and pine”, can we read in a recent press release.
The HCSP first recommends that the draft decree specify the list of audiences concerned. Concerning the draft decree, it then renews its recommendation formulated in its opinion of September 21, 2016, an application circular of which specifies the implementation of the measures of the control system.
The HCSP also emphasizes that “it is the proliferation of these processionary caterpillars that is harmful, and not the caterpillars themselves.” It also recommends taking actions to raise awareness among the general public about the risks linked to processionary caterpillars and the actions to take if they are present.
What causes human contact with a processionary caterpillar?
As explained by several Regional Health Agencies (Ile-de-France And Great East), the hairs of oak and pine processionary caterpillars contain a stinging and allergenic toxin. These hairs are particularly dispersed when the caterpillars are attacked: they then cling to clothing, skin, hair, and cause health problems affecting:
- the eyes (conjunctivitis);
- the skin (itching and redness);
- the respiratory tract (discomfort or even asthma);
- throat (pain)
What to do if you come into contact with a processionary caterpillar?
Most of these symptoms disappear within a few hours and do not require medical attention. To calm itching, dermatologist Marie-Sylvie Doutre nevertheless mentions BFM TV the possibility of taking antihistamines and applying creams with cortisone. “For children who touch caterpillars and then rub their eyes, it may be necessary to consult an ophthalmologist to remove any hairs stuck in that area,” she also specifies.
Oak and pine processionary caterpillars: what are the differences?
Established for several years in France, oak and pine processionary caterpillars live in groups in nests attached to trees. These caterpillars belong to two distinct species and have different life cycles. The pine processionary caterpillar stings from December to April, while the oak processionary caterpillar stings from May to July.
They also do not have the same geographical distribution in France: the pine processionary caterpillar is present in the southern three-quarters of our territory and its migration front goes back a few kilometers each year, while the oak processionary caterpillar is as for it mainly found in the north-eastern quarter in small outbreaks.