As of: February 25, 2024, 4:53 a.m
By: Michel Guddat
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Poisonous caterpillars spread unusually early on Mallorca.
The authorities are using pesticides to combat the plague on the popular holiday island.
Palma – Vacation planning is underway, so potential travel destinations are being considered.
Criteria such as weather, prices and attractions are usually taken into account.
Some are also a bit concerned about the wildlife at their destination.
Australia is immediately removed from the list.
The popular island of Mallorca, on the other hand, is often viewed as harmless.
But is it really like that?
The hairs of the processionary moth caterpillars can trigger allergic reactions
According to reports from the
Mallorca newspaper,
the processionary moth caterpillars are active earlier than usual this year.
They have been leaving their nests for several weeks now to form long chains before burying themselves in the ground.
Touching their hairs can be dangerous for humans.
These hairs can cause severe allergic reactions and affect health.
The so-called processionary moths are out and about on Mallorca earlier than usual.
© Imagebroker/Imago
According to Luis Núñez from the Ministry of the Environment of the Balearic Islands, the caterpillars have already been spotted in the mountains, in the countryside and in parks and gardens near cities.
The animals usually only appear at the beginning of March.
The reason for this is apparently the unusually high temperatures combined with low rainfall.
The slightest touch is enough - wind can spread the hairs of the caterpillars
The tricky thing about these poisonous animals is that they can harm humans even without direct contact.
In windy weather, their hairs become detached and can stick to the skin, clothing or shoes.
According to Joachim von Rohr, a dermatologist at the Clínica Picasso in Palma, even the slightest touch is enough to release the neurotoxin.
These are the consequences:
itching
Burn
Redness
hives
Swollen and irritated eyes
Swollen mouth
Shortness of breath
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In rare cases, the reactions can even lead to life-threatening circulatory failure.
In case of contact, it is recommended to shower and wash your hair immediately.
Aok.de
also recommends shaking out worn clothing thoroughly and putting it in the washing machine.
After showering, care should be taken to only dab yourself so as not to break the nettle hairs and prevent them from spreading further.
If symptoms do not subside after a few hours, a doctor should be consulted.
In severe cases, symptoms can last up to ten days.
Authorities are taking action against caterpillars with pesticides and hunters
The local authorities in Mallorca's fight against the caterpillars is moving into the next phase.
The processionary moth caterpillars have now been classified as a pest and appropriate pesticides are used as an antidote.
Once the caterpillars' nests are built, they must be removed from the trees using protective clothing.
A free service offered by some communities is to hire a hunter to shoot the nests out of the trees with his shotgun.
For those who decide to vacation or reside in Mallorca, it is advisable to wear long clothing and a hat.
Dogs should also be kept on a leash.
Lots of problems instead of relaxation - not just for pensioners.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.