Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
A Dutch tourist snapped this photo of thousands of oak processionary caterpillars covering a tree at a campsite in Volstroff, France. June 17, 2019
A Dutch tourist snapped this photo of thousands of oak processionary caterpillars covering a tree at a campsite in Volstroff, France. June 17, 2019 - Credit: Photo: NL Times
Nature
oak processionary caterpillars
Arnold van Vliet
pest control
Ede
Monday, 6 April 2020 - 14:38
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Poisonous processionary caterpillars start to hatch, making a return to NL

The first oak processionary caterpillars of the year hatched in Ede on Monday morning, Arnold van Vliet of the Dutch knowledge center on these poisonous caterpillars said to NU.nl. The biologist previously marked a number of egg clusters on the branches of oak trees. When he went to check them on Monday, "the caterpillars were already walking over the branch in procession," he said.

According to Van Vliet, the eggs will hatch at around the same time throughout the Netherlands. "The current high temperatures help with that." Though Netherlands residents don't yet have to worry about burning eyes and itching. When the caterpillars hatch, they don't yet have their characteristic stinging hairs. These are expected to develop by mid-May.

Now that the eggs have hatched, municipalities and pest controllers can start fighting the caterpillars. Though pest controllers previously raised concerns about a shortage of protective clothing, due to the coronavirus.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Cabinet may use Lelystad Airport, empty churches to shelter asylum seekers & refugees
  • More hospitals, cybersecurity firm also targeted in pro-Russia cyberattack
  • Parliamentary inquiry on Groningen gas earthquakes didn't restore locals trust in gov't
  • Amsterdam to Barcelona night train wins support from European Commission
  • Four men convicted in 1985 gas station cashier murder may have made false confessions
  • Union wins “significant” pay raise for security guards, up to 40% boost at Schiphol

Top stories

  • Cabinet may use Lelystad Airport, empty churches to shelter asylum seekers & refugees
  • Netherlands named 8th least corrupt nation in annual review, but issues remain
  • Dutch human rights institute critical of “disproportionate” arrest of climate protesters
  • Regions outside Randstad against limiting international students
  • Rutte, Macron and Biden not yet ready to give Ukraine F-16 jets
  • Housing construction at highest level in decade; Still 26% below gov't target

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content