Urgent warning as beach hit by toxic caterpillars – be warned
BEACHGOERS have been issued an urgent warning amid fears of a threatening outbreak of toxic caterpillars.
Sunseekers heading to Jaywick Sands Beach in Essex could be at risk after an infestation of brown-tail moth caterpillars was spotted by locals.
The creepy crawlies can be harmful, causing itchy skin and affecting some people quite seriously when they release their irritant hairs into the air.
But the caterpillars are most dangerous for dogs.
The poisonous pests have been hatching from the Brecon on the beach and crawling over the footpath into neighbouring gardens since the weekend, according to one resident speaking to .
The top of Sea Pink Way is reportedly the site of the worst outbreak.
If your pooch comes into contact or ingests a brown-tail moth caterpillar, the insect’s toxins can cause tummy aches, diarrhoea or even lesions.
Non-hairy tummies, muzzles or shaved udders could break out into rashes or dermatitis if your puppy picks up one of the caterpillars on its body, although their fur will mostly protect them from suffering itchy skin.
Nonetheless, dog-owners should beware of deterring the insects by spraying insecticide as the chemicals in these can also be toxic for dogs.
Brown-tail moth caterpillars are brown, have a dotted white line down each side and two very distinctive red dots on the back of their tail.
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They usually appear in springtime and can be found near vegetation.
The caterpillars live in groups and make communal “tents” to shelter from bad weather and to hibernate in the winter.
These clumps of cobweb-like material will release irritant hairs if disturbed, so it is important to be careful.
If you haven’t spotted any individual caterpillars, but areas of trees or bushes have lost all their leaves, you might have an infestation of caterpillars feeding there.
This particularly pesky species is not actually a recognised public health pest, so the council and most local authorities do not provide treatment for this.
Tendring District Council which surrounds Jaywick Sands Beach will not treat an outbreak in private properties or gardens, but it will treat the area on council-owned land.
