Caterpillars thought to be a threat to Australian horse care

Thursday, 26 August 2010 17:46

Horse care professionals in Geelong, Australia have raised fears over the effects that an attack of progressionary caterpillars - also known as hairy caterpillars - may be having on breeding equines.

These insects apparently have a dangerous side to them, despite their unprepossessing appearance and have been implied to be responsible for several miscarriages in pregnant mares.

It is believed that ingesting the larvae or grub material can induce abortion in the animals within a matter of days.

First discovered in 2004, these caterpillars are thought to be responsible for a mass of miscarriages experienced in breeding farms across the New South Wales Hunter Valley region that year.

Furthermore, they have spread to the Geelong area in the province of Victoria.

The hairy caterpillar syndrome is just one of many natural occurrences that can cause harm to horses.

For example, otherwise harmless weed ragwort can kill an equine if it is eaten, leading the British Horse Society to launch a campaign on the plant this year.

Posted by Elaine