Moth that can kill humans is found breeding in Britain
Pastor Dale Morgan
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Moth that can kill humans is found breeding in Britain*
By Charles Clover, Environment Editor
(Filed: 14/10/2006)
A moth that can be deadly to humans and strips the leaves off oak trees
has been found breeding in Britain in what scientists are saying is the
result of climate change.
The Oak processionary moth is believed to have arrived in oak trees
imported from Tuscany and planted on a housing development before
infesting the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, south-west London.
Teams in breathing apparatus were called in to deal with three outbreaks
of the moth at Kew a month ago but the gardens made no announcement at
the time, even though the head of the arboretum, Tony Kirkham, has now
told the publication, Horticulture Week, that the outbreak was "a severe
danger to the public".
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Mr Kirkham told the magazine: "There are deaths – a few a year in Spain.
We had to send climbers up wearing breathing apparatus and had to fix
the nest with hairspray so the hairs could not dislodge, then we torched
them in situ.
"They can defoliate oaks quickly because they are voracious feeders. If
they get hold they could cause serious problems."
The existence of the moth came to light when Kew was notified by
environmental health officers that residents of the nearby housing
development were suffering from a skin irritation.
The problem was traced to the bristles on the Oak processionary moth.
The moth gets its name because of its caterpillars' habit of processing
up and down oak trees in a long lines.
Sara Redstone, the plant health officer at Kew, said: "Apparently it is
good sport to remove the last in line and the whole lot judder to a halt
like the cards in Alice and Wonderland."
This, however, has to be done with some caution, because while the first
two stages of larval growth are harmless, the oldest has distinctive
long hairs which disguise 63,000 defensive bristles containing toxin.
Even if the larvae are not handled, the hairs break off readily and can
become airborne, causing a rash, dermatitis or conjunctivitis and, if
inhaled, pharyngitis, asthma and even anaphylaxis though this is highly
unusual.
Miss Redstone said that vagrant adult moths had been seen in Britain
before but had not been known to breed.
Christine Tilbury, of the Forestry Commission's agency, Forest Research,
said: "We are obviously concerned about it. The caterpillars stimulate a
severe allergenic reaction in susceptible people.
Where it has occurred on the Continent it has caused a severe skin rash
and respiratory tract irritation. We would advise anyone in contact with
it to get immediate medical advice."
She added: "It could fly in or come in as eggs on plants. I do not know
how you keep it out."
The only good news, according to Miss Redstone, is that the moth is
currently in its egg stage, the moths having flown over the summer.
Therefore the moth will not become a human health problem again until
May, when it hatches and begins consuming the 80 to 100 Tuscan oaks on
the nearby housing development where it is believed to have originated.
She said: "The key thing is to have a plan in place for when they
emerge. As an island we have the potential to keep this thing at bay."
The problem is that there seems to be no requirement on anybody to
control the moth. The Forestry Commission says it is illegal to import
the moth but once here it is not notifiable.
Plant nurseryman say that Britain's policies are based on trade so it
does not often ban imports and while imports are checked, it is
impossible to spot everything.
A spokesman for Kew said: "As there is currently no specific national
mechanism for dealing with this pest, Kew is working closely with the
Environmental Health Agency, Defra, Forestry Research and local
organisations to monitor the situation and work to tackle the problem."