A perimeter defence in Australian processionary caterpillars

当它们进入人类和动物的皮肤或内部组织时，游行毛虫上的微观可分离毛发会引起临床反应。 在暴露和最严重的影响之间有一个时间延迟，推断出一个比简单刺激更复杂的行动。该项目旨在测试一种新的机制-毛发如何在毛毛虫周围形成周边防御，从而引发潜在捕食者的免疫系统，这些毛发如何在分层的毛毛虫防御系统中发挥作用以及刚毛可以分散多远。这项研究将告知有关当局，特别是兽医，暴露于游行毛毛虫毛发的风险，并增加捕食者-猎物相互作用的理论。

Microscopic, detachable hairs on processionary caterpillars cause clinical reactions when they enter the skin or internal tissues of humans and animals. There is a time delay between exposure and the most serious effects, inferring an action more complex than simple irritation. The project aims to test a novel mechanism – how the hairs form a perimeter defence around caterpillars that primes the immune system of potential predators, how these hairs function within the layered caterpillar defensive system and how far setae can disperse. The research will inform relevant authorities and in particular veterinarians of the risks being exposed to processionary caterpillar hairs and add to the theory of predator-prey interaction.