larve of the procession moth The Oak Processionary (Thaumetopoea processionea) is a moth whose caterpillars have come into confl
The Oak Processionary (Thaumetopoea processionea) is a moth whose caterpillars have come into conflict with humans both as pests of oak forests and because of the health hazard posed by their poisonous setae (hairs), which may cause skin irritation and asthma. Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Thaumetopoeidae Genus: Thaumetopoea Species: T. processionea Binomial name Thaumetopoea processionea Oak processionary moths are widely distributed in central and southern Europe, but are occasionally found as far north as Sweden. In the southern countries of Europe the populations are controlled by natural predators, but these predators do not exist in northern Europe. Their range is expanding northward, possibly or partly as a result of global warming and they have already eroded some forests in the Netherlands. Since the summer of 2006 the moth has also arrived in areas in west London, and it is believed that this is because of the importation of oak from the Netherlands. The wingspan of adult stage moths is between 25 and 35 mm. Their pattern of tan, brown and white make the adults difficult to see against oak bark. Adults fly during July and August. The larvae construct communal nests of white silk from which they crawl at night in single file, head to tail in large processions to feed on foliage in the crowns of trees, later to return in the same manner. The moths are posing an increasing threat to humans as their range is being extended by the warming European climate. The backs of older caterpillars (3rd to 6th instars) are covered with as many as 63,000 pointed defensive bristles containing an urticating toxin (thaumetopoein or closely related compounds). Even if the larvae are not handled, the setae break off readily, become airborne and can cause epidemic caterpillar dermatitis (lepidopterism), manifested as a papular rash, pruritus, conjunctivitis and, if inhaled,
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