Processionary caterpillars go to school in Almuñecar

IN the same way as in the UK there are reports of the hearing of the first cuckoo of spring, in Southern Spain it is the first nest of the processionary caterpillar which makes the news.

This January, the junior school Santa Cruz has found nests of the young of the pine processionary moth. Whilst the moth itself lives for just one day, the caterpillars are around for weeks and their hairs which can be ejected when they are in danger are quite toxic to animals and cause irritation to humans.

Due to this discovery, administrators at the school contacted the Almuñecar Council who immediately arranged for municipal staff to remove the caterpillars from the pine trees in the school grounds.