Caterpillars and moths

Reacções Cutâneas, Oculares e Respiratórias pela Processionária (Thaumetopoea Pityocampa)

“…Based on climatic conditions, it can span among years. [2][3][4][5] Even the above 2 biological phases can vary in duration.…”

“…Caterpillars have defense mechanisms as urticating hairs, sharp spines and a range of toxic substances. 2,3 Pine processionary larvae have an urticating apparatus, which may release up to 1 million setae to the air in order to protect the larvae from their predators. The setae are very sharp in the distal part, and have backward spikes in the proximal part, in order to facilitate the penetration of the setae into the skin or mucosa of the attacking animal.…”

“…The setae are very sharp in the distal part, and have backward spikes in the proximal part, in order to facilitate the penetration of the setae into the skin or mucosa of the attacking animal. 3 The first clinical reports on pine caterpillar were given by entomologists. 4,5 In Portugal, all forest zones are burdened by such environmental threat causing also a medical problem, which is referred by the social communication as a nightmare.…”

The oak processionary moth: a new health hazard?

“…Intraocular penetration of caterpillar hair resulting in ophthalmia nodosa has also been reported. 7,8 Generalised systemic symptoms may include fever, nausea, and malaise. An anaphylaxis syndrome with shock has been reported on rare occasions.…”

Toxins from Lonomia obliqua — Recombinant Production and Molecular Approach

“…The majority of medically important encounters with lepidopterans occur with exposure to the caterpillar's urticating hairs or spines, but hemolymph can also have toxic properties [1,2]. A variety of clinical effects have been described, which depend on the family and species involved, ranging from local to systemic reactions [3,4].…”