Britain is facing invasion of the toxic caterpillars
AN army of poisonous caterpillars is mounting an invasion of Britain.
The oak processionary moth can cause severe skin rashes and asthma attacks as well as causing eye and throat irritations, vomiting, dizziness and fever.
Wildlife experts have warned people to report the hazardous pests as soon as they spot them.
The moths reached their highly toxic caterpillar stage in the last two weeks and reports of the creepy-crawlies have rocketed.
Each tiny creature has 63,000 poisonous hairs which cause illness.
The Royal Forestry Society tweeted: “It’s time to be vigilant! Oak Processionary Moth spotted in parks.” by KATE NELSON
Their nests are white and can be tennis ball shaped or tree bare they move on to stretch to around 3ft long. the next tree, following
They contain hundreds each other, which gives of caterpillars which are them their name. about two-inches long. Caterpillars are easily recognised by their distinctive habit of moving about in late spring and early summer in nose-totail processions.
They live almost exclusively on oak trees.
Tree expert at Richmond Council, south-west London, Craig Ruddick, said: “We ask residents to be cautious when they see these creatures in their own gardens as they are a danger to your health.”
The moths were accidentally introduced to Britain in 2005 as eggs which had been laid on live oak plants imported from Europe.
More than 150 hotspots have been set with pheromone traps to kill off the invaders.
A Royal Forestry Society spokesman said the southeast of England is the worst hit.
He added: “The treatment programme is expected to continue for about five or six weeks.
“We aim to complete this while the caterpillars are still small enough.”
They lay their eggs on oak trees and their larvae feeds on the leaves.
Once they have stripped a