Processionary caterpillar nest

Living in France, you need to be aware of a dangerous and often deadly creature known as the Pine Processionary Caterpillar. Unlike the vast majority of caterpillars, this particular species can be harmful to young children and sometimes fatal to dogs and cats. Many dog owners have lost their pets after coming into contact with the caterpillars it is as well to be familiar with them and the potential dangers. In early spring, the processionary caterpillars leave their nests high up in the Mediterranean pine trees and head to the ground to pupate. When this happens, they potentially come into contact with young children and curious pets. The processionary caterpillar is mostly found in wooded forests and can be identified by the thousands of small fine poisonous hairs or bristles that cover their bodies. The name ‘processionary’ comes from the fact that they create a procession or caterpillar style ‘conga’ from head to tail to form a long chain. It is not unheard of to see chains with hundreds of them all joined together. The caterpillars are not only extremely toxic and therefore dangerous to anyone who comes into contact with them, they are also responsible for the destruction of the pine trees they inhabit. 

A friend of mine as a child said he used to coax the procession into a circle with a stick and get the first one to follow the last one and watch the procession go nowhere!