According to Dutch media reports, in the last two weeks, the oak caterpillar is back again! The thorny "poisonous hairs" on their bodies will drift into the air...
A study in the journal Nature Today showed that 15% of caterpillars have reached the fourth larval stage, when they develop "poisonous hairs" that can cause rashes and breathing problems in humans.
It is reported that when the caterpillar is threatened externally, these harmful fine hairs are released as a defense mechanism. The most mature caterpillars will soon begin to build their characteristic nests, usually on tree trunks.
Due to the relatively low temperatures in spring in the Netherlands this year, oak caterpillars developed three weeks later than last year. As the temperature rises, the growth rate of caterpillars accelerates... The hazard period this year is expected to be from mid-June to July.
In previous years, caterpillars were highly harmful in areas
There may be some friends who do not know much about this matter, in order to help this part of the students to prevent harm in this regard, the following is about the oak caterpillar this hateful creature.
Oak caterpillars are larvae of the oak processierups ( Dutch ) , which begin pupating in June and early July , feathering into butterflies in their nests around the end of July and early August. The larvae live in groups and grow through 6 stages. These caterpillars usually live in oak forests and feed on oak leaves, causing serious damage to forestry and many other aspects. They often act in a row (hence the name), with the leader then lining up in rows of caterpillars.
These caterpillars are very harmful to the human body because their toxic bristles are a human irritant. Each caterpillar has about 700,000 poisonous hairs, which are irritating, and human contact can cause itching, rashes, irritation of the eyes or respiratory tract and persistent itching, symptoms that can last for two weeks and, in severe cases, even shock.
So, don't touch these caterpillars directly!
However, this is not to say that if you don't take the initiative to "touch" you will be fine. The problem is that when these caterpillars feel threatened, the poisonous hairs on their bodies pop out and float in the air (hmm... It will explode). If people with allergies encounter this situation, inhaling excess villi will cause anaphylactic shock, resulting in tight respiratory tract closure, and even death in severe cases.
Recently, the weather in the Netherlands has been sunny most of the time, and it is about to enter a relatively long summer vacation, and the relevant departments have warned to avoid activities and picnics under the trees as much as possible, and if poisonous caterpillars are found, they must notify the local municipality as soon as possible. In addition, in previous years, there have been several cases of caterpillar infections caused by swimming, so swimming outdoors also needs to be more careful, remember to take a careful shower after swimming, and then change into clean clothes.
(Source: nltimes)