The hairs of
Thaumetopoea processionea caterpillars (Lepidoptera) provoke a cutaneous reaction in man and animals. The urticating apparatus, the urticating gland which produces hairs, and the urticating hairs, are similar to those of the
T. pityocampa caterpillar. The irritant fraction extracted from hairs contains soluble proteins; one of these shows immunological identity with thaumetopoein, the urticating protein of the
Th. pityocampa caterpillar. This thaumetopoein-like protein is currently undergoing isolation and will be subjected to dermatological tests.
Key words
Thaumetopoea processionea
- oak processionary caterpillar - erucism - urticating apparatus - venom - thaumetopoein-like protein