HIGHWAY OF HAIRY LARVAE
PLAGUES of hairy caterpillars are invading the Gold Coast with experts warning a sting from their hairs could result in serious injury or death.
The creepy crawlies are bag-shelter moth larvae feeding before hibernating for the winter.
Pegasus environmental director Murray Waugh said he had not seen such large numbers in 22 years.
Mr Waugh said he had one call last week and two calls on Saturday from clients who had found armies of them in their yards.
“I have never seen them in such a large congregated infestation as that before,” he said.
Queensland Museum’s senior curator for entomology, Chris Burwell, advised residents to steer clear of them, especially children.
He said he knew of one case of a child losing sight in one eye after one of the caterpillar’s hairs was lodged in it.
“Those hairs on the body are barbed and brittle and can pierce the skin and cause an unpleasant rash or severe allergic reactions ... which in the worst case could result in an anaphylactic shock and possibly death,” he said.
However, the Commonwealth Games venues should avoid the swarms of moths which filled the sky at the Sydney Olympics 18 years ago, as the larvae will burrow underground and not remerge as bag-shelter moths until spring.