Processional caterpillars

The threat of these caterpillars is well known to Taglines readers, and we often have warnings that they are descending from their balls of fluff in the pine trees. The caterpillars join into quite long lines to cross the ground, often including roads. In recent days walkers in parts of Aveyron have noticed millions of the beasts invading even the picnic tables. The good weather for the Toussaint holiday has attracted not only tourists, but the caterpillars. More worrying is the tendency now for the caterpillars to use juniper bushes as well as the pine trees. The damage to the environment of the causses threatens the status of the area for tourism and after the ravages of the box caterpillars earlier this year our countryside is under threat from natural causes as well as chemicals.

Caterpillars attack a juniper bush

If readers are unfamiliar with the processional caterpillars they are advised to avoid them wherever possible. They can eject irritating barbs over considerable distances and are especially dangerous to dogs.
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