The pine processionary caterpillar is making its way northward across France, driven by climate change. Increasingly mild winters are accelerating the growth of this insect, which poses dangers to both humans and animals.
Tilloy-lez-Cambrai (Nord), report
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Moving in tight, single-file lines, the pine processionary caterpillars create a remarkable sight each year. After feasting on pine needles, they depart their host tree to seek a spot in the soil where they can bury themselves and transition through their pupal stage into moths.
Their relatives, the oak processionary caterpillars, tend to stay on their trees, reducing the likelihood of encounters. Fortunately, whether they prefer oak or pine, processionary caterpillars are highly irritating, and their tiny hairs can impact your respiratory system, causing severe allergic reactions. For animals, the effects can be even more serious.
The collective marches of the pine processionary caterpillars are a common sight in mountainous and Mediterranean areas, and now, increasingly in northern France. Climate change is making these northern latitudes more hospitable for the insects. They are gradually moving higher up.
To monitor the spread of the pine processionary caterpillars, a program was established in 2021, led by the Fredon France network, a federation aimed at overseeing these developments. Gaëtan Douchin, a mission officer with Fredon Normandie, has observed the caterpillars moving progressively northward in his region over the years.
« The moths can travel up to 4 km in a season, he explains. We see the communities getting colonized gradually, from the south to the north. The caterpillar came from Brittany, and we can track the progression of the colonization front. » Thus, the southern departments of the region are most affected, while Seine-Maritime in the north remains largely spared for now.
The caterpillars are advancing north because the climate is becoming more conducive to their survival; they require positive temperatures and their underground nests need to maintain temperatures above 6°C.
« If we have warm autumns and winters, the caterpillars develop much faster, Gaëtan Douchin notes. This was the case last autumn in the Channel, with favorable conditions. We saw the first processions at the end of October, whereas normally they start in early January. »
As the pine processionary caterpillars continue their journey northwards… Have they reached the very top of France yet? In Tilloy-lez-Cambrai (Nord), the small sports complex at the base of the village, usually open to the public, is closed.
On the locked entrance gate, there’s a clear municipal order indicating a « temporary closure of areas due to the confirmed presence of processionary caterpillars ». However, a photo taken on-site by colleagues from La Voix du Nord shows a caterpillar with two red spots on its rear: it’s not a processionary caterpillar.
« If you see two red spots, you can be sure it’s a brown-tail moth caterpillar », Gaëtan Douchin asserts. This caterpillar is also irritating but is not considered a pest species.
Sooner or later, the pine processionary caterpillars will complete their journey and eventually reach Dunkirk. But for now: « Hold on, butterfly! »
Dangerous for humans, even more so for dogs
Pine processionary caterpillars are irritating and allergenic to humans. « Oak or pine, they have the same properties, Gaëtan Douchin says. The irritating hairs are not the ones visible on the caterpillars. They are microscopic and highly volatile. Sometimes you approach the caterpillars thinking you’re not exposed, but in reality, you are exposed to the hairs. »
For animals, the danger is even greater; most often, the victims are dogs: a bad encounter can necrotize your poor dog’s tongue, leading to severe consequences. To control the population of processionary caterpillars, predators such as bats (which eat the moths) and birds like tits, cuckoos, hoopoes, and Calosoma beetles (which eat the caterpillars) play a crucial role.
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Hi, I’m Ashley from the Decatur Metro team. I share essential information for a sustainable and responsible lifestyle.
