First of all: be careful – no need to panic!

Autumn time, the leaves change colors or just fall from the tree. Every year around the same time, warnings about the webs of the oak processionary moth appear just as regularly, and also very recently on Facebook:

image

The status post as wording:

ATTENTION – Dangerous or even fatal!
This is what the webs of the oak processionary moth look like now, as they are currently falling from the trees due to the weather!
The poison it contains lasts up to 5 years and causes considerable damage to your four-legged friends! There is a risk of death if taken! Sharing is expressly desired!

Is that correct?

Yes! Just because it's suddenly autumn doesn't mean they lose their effect. Stinging hair is stinging hair, so you should exercise the necessary caution even in autumn, but the same applies here - caution yes, fearmongering no. The oak processionary moths weave themselves into their nests during pupal rest to protect themselves from enemies. These nests can be the size of a ball and are located on branches and trunks of oak trees and are often on the ground, as you can see in the screenshot.

Already in June 2018, Anke M. published the following information on mimikama:

The oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionata) is a butterfly that belongs to the moths. The animals are found throughout Germany, mostly in the south, but also in the northern parts of the country due to climate change. There have been some mass proliferations in recent years, particularly in Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia.

In Austria it occurs wherever there are oak trees. The development of the butterfly takes place in the following stages:

The egg –> the larva –> the pupa –> the butterfly

With the arrival of spring, the egg larvae awaken and begin to hatch. Their further development is divided into six stages.

The young caterpillars first eat the emerging buds and as soon as the leaves unfold, the pitting and the procession of the predominantly nocturnal caterpillars begins.

In this phase, the caterpillar can also be found around the tree and, as growth progresses, it reaches the critical L3 stage. The caterpillars then have a dark, broad back line with velvety hairy areas and reddish-brown, long-hairy warts. They live sociably and go in search of food in groups of 20 to 30 individuals in single file, hence their name: processionary moth .

Health hazards

The insect has possible health effects from the 3rd larval stage.

From here on, the stinging hairs on the back of the oak processionary moth contain the allergy-causing poison ( thaumetopoein ).

Contact with leaves or wind movements can cause the hair to break off and fall to the ground. The wind can then cover short or long distances (several 100 m) before the hair hits the ground or can be picked up in some other way.

From here it CAN potentially become “dangerous”. Both for humans and for dogs.

When and where can the oak processionary moth be found?

Depending on the weather (it should have been dry and warm for a long time), the time for the critical 3rd larval stage must be dated differently each year and differentiated specifically according to the regions in Germany and Austria. The beginning of summer (beginning of May) is usually an approximate value, but this is increasingly shifting as a result of climate change.

Pupation finally takes place in June in nests on the tree.

The caterpillar is a so-called health or hygiene pest and can be found on all types of oak It is more common in the south and center of Germany than in the north. However, as a result of global warming, monitoring also shows a significant increase in northern Germany.

Wherever there are oak trees, colonization with the oak processionary moth is possible.
  • Forest edges
  • sports ground
  • Swimming pool
  • Children's playground
  • Camping facilities
  • Parking spaces
  • Green strips/parks
  • etc.

In urban areas as well as in the countryside or in the forest.

The nests in which the caterpillars retreat to pupate are located on the trunk and at the upper branch forks. These nests remain after the butterflies have “moved out” and can still contain active stinging hairs years after colonization, so the problem actually exists all year round if the nests are close to the ground.

Is the oak processionary moth dangerous for dogs and people?

The allergic reaction of the immune system can vary greatly from person to person . The oak processionary moth can have a minor impact on the health of dogs or humans or can also pose a (massive) threat. The spectrum of danger depending on the individual way it works in the body .

Symptoms include :

  • local skin rashes (caterpillar dermatitis), which manifest themselves as local skin redness, slight swelling, severe itching and burning. Blisters often form in the affected areas.
  • Irritation of the mouth and nasal mucosa due to inhalation of hair, which can lead to coughing and asthma.
  • Other symptoms such as dizziness, fever, fatigue and conjunctivitis due to irritation of the eyes can also occur.
  • In rare cases, allergic shocks also occur.

The caterpillars' stinging hairs contain the protein thaumetopoein. The hairs penetrate the skin mechanically (similar to stinging nettle) and thus spread the substance biochemically throughout the body.

Areas of skin on the snout or in the mouth are particularly affected. The eyes or paws and hands (especially in children) also represent a potential contact point.

If the hair enters the body with food, irritation/swelling of the tongue and esophagus is possible.

What should you do if you come into contact with the caterpillars or a nest?

Of course, you should consult a doctor or veterinarian immediately to describe the possible suspicion or incident. Everything else can only be determined by the individual reaction of the person, the dog, the cat or even the horse.

The severe cases in people I knew or with whom I was present presented doctors with a major challenge, as the individual reaction required an equally individual approach to treatment and the lack of experience with the pest made targeted therapy difficult. Cortisone was often the drug of choice.

Result:

Since the potential dangers can easily create panic, an objective discussion with the population is often difficult to implement. To my knowledge, there is no scientific evidence of the risk spectrum and effects on dogs, as the symptoms are often associated with other allergies.

The harmful effects of the oak processionary moth are very individual and in the event of potential contact, a visit to the doctor or veterinarian is necessary.

Nevertheless, it makes sense to be aware of the possible dangers in order to prevent excessive panic and to avoid contact by having a broad base of information.

Parts of this article were created in collaboration with Daniela Antoni and the Hundebloghaus and Anke M. from the veterinary practice Anke Meeuw ! Thank you for that!


If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:

📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.

Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!

* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!


Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )