Germany battles aggressive outbreak of poisonous caterpillars

Key Points:

• Germany is experiencing a severe outbreak of oak processionary moth caterpillars, whose toxic hairs can cause rashes, conjunctivitis, breathing difficulties, and severe allergic reactions, leading to park closures and public health warnings.
• Berlin is a major hotspot, with districts like Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Spandau, and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg heavily affected; authorities have cordoned off infested areas and are using specialized vacuum equipment to remove nests from trees.
• About 2,000 trees in Berlin’s Jungfernheide Park are infested, and while eradication is impossible, efforts focus on damage limitation by targeting trees near visitor paths, with workers clearing approximately 20 trees daily.
• The outbreak is linked to climate change and biodiversity loss, with the caterpillars spreading northward from southern Europe; similar infestations have been reported in Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia.
• Residents are advised to avoid contact with the caterpillars and their nests, thoroughly clean clothes after visiting parks, and keep windows and doors closed to minimize exposure to the toxic hairs.