Belgian Flammenwerfer Force Attacks Caterpillar-OPFOR!

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

Belgian military deployed to combat caterpillars

2 hours, 35 minutes ago

A mini-platoon of soldiers will be deployed to the Belgian forests to tackle a plague of hairy caterpillars that are causing allergy outbreaks in humans.

Procession caterpillars, so-called for the way they march in lines through forests, are covered in long, toxic hairs which cause dermatitis and respiratory problems and account for up to 80 percent of doctor visits in the affected area.

"A bit less than a platoon, about 24 soldiers and airmen, will be deployed to help the fire brigade and civil protection authority combat the caterpillars," Belgian military spokeswoman Ingrid Baeck said on Thursday.

She said Belgian armed forces were also deployed in Lebanon, Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Congo but that they had a duty to help the local civil population.

Equipped with super-size blowtorches, the soldiers will spend six weeks in the eastern province of Limburg from Monday, waging a tree-by-tree war on the scourge of caterpillars, which cling in groups to trunks and branches.

"In teams of two people, they will go through the forests and burn the little animals off the trees," said Baeck. "There have not been enough people to do this and I think we can make the difference."

Previous attempts to rid forests of the caterpillars, which number in the millions thanks to mild weather, have included spraying pesticide using a helicopter and setting traps for the adult moths coated in female hormones.

We must CRUSH the Bug Threat assaulting our precious Belgian forest territories!!

[Admiral Valdemar]

"The only good bug is a dead bug!"

Young people all over the globe are joining up to save the future. Everyone is doing their part. Are you?

Would you like to know more?

[J]

And here I was thinking it would involve Caterpillar, the makers of bulldozers and other heavy equipment...

[CaptainChewbacca]

Join the mobile infantry today! Citizenship is guaranteed!

[Companion Cube]

It's an ugly country; a bug country!

Previous attempts to rid forests of the caterpillars, which number in the millions thanks to mild weather, have included spraying pesticide using a helicopter and setting traps for the adult moths coated in female hormones.

Given that chemical methods have failed, I wonder how long it'll take for direct action to have a great effect? I'd imagine the caterpillars would be fairly dispersed.

[Winston Blake]

Equipped with super-size blowtorches, the soldiers will spend six weeks in the eastern province of Limburg from Monday, waging a tree-by-tree war on the scourge of caterpillars, which cling in groups to trunks and branches.

Critters burn good, just ask this lady:

Procession caterpillars, so-called for the way they march in lines through forests, are covered in long, toxic hairs which cause dermatitis and respiratory problems and account for up to 80 percent of doctor visits in the affected area.

They mostly come out at night. Mostly.

[Tanasinn]

I say they should take off and nuke the site from orbit.

It's the only way to be sure.

[Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba]

Get out of our forests, you HUNDRED - LEGGED - FREAKS!

[Bounty]

The Belgian army pitted against fluffy caterpillars?

...

Don't bet on the bipeds.

That said, these caterpillars - processierupsen as they're known here - are a real pest. They've been migrating and expanding their territory for the past few years, coming as far as eastern Brabant, which they didn't do just a few years ago. It was all over the news yesterday; the funniest bit was when a reporter said, matter-of-factly, that the local fire department had set up an operation to eradicate on group of caterpillars but had to retreat because they weren't winning.

[wautd]

Man vs Nature: the road to Victory!

[Admiral Valdemar]

It Came From Limburg!

Kill one and two take its place!

This city is under martial law until we annihilate THEM!

An Endless Terror! A Nameless Horror!

[Spearfish]

There's something similar happening at a lifeboat station in the UK.
The Army is so far paying no attention.

[Winston Blake]

There's something similar happening at a lifeboat station in the UK.
The Army is so far paying no attention.

Natural invasion causes health problems
By Danny Savage
BBC News

Caterpillar
The caterpillars can cause rashes and breathing problems
Spurn Point is a long spit of land which stretches like a crooked finger out into the North Sea to form the tip of the north coast of the Humber Estuary.

It is a place where nature and man live cheek by jowl. This thin strip of land - surrounded on three sides by water - is famous for its natural attractions.

Many who visit here come to see the birds. There is an observatory run by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust which has recorded some spectacular sightings especially during the spring and autumn migrations.

The beginning of this week was especially busy for arrivals with 144 Wheatears, 133 Willow Warblers , Turtle Doves and a Nightingale all turning up within a 24 hour period.

But another of nature's arrivals is causing the small population who live here increasing misery. They can be found in the bushes slowly munching their way through the vegetation and at first sight don't look too threatening.

Each of them is an inch long with brown hairs and red spots. They are caterpillars, or more specifically the larvae of the Brown Tailed Moth.

'Eating everything'

Caterpillar and lifeboat
Spurn Point is home to Britain's only full-time lifeboat station

They started appearing a few weeks ago and have literally got under the skin of men who are not the type to complain.

The end of Spurn Point is home to Britain's only full-time lifeboat station. Seven men and their families live out here at the RNLI's busiest outpost. The crew is prepared to launch in all weathers.

They are familiar with battling with nature and are used to winning. But at present putting to sea brings blessed relief to the afflicted.


It's actually becoming a really difficult problem, it looks like we've all got chicken-pox
Dave Steenvorden
The problem is the caterpillars have poisonous barbs which are causing rashes, skin irritation, headaches and breathing difficulties to the people who live here.

They don't affect everyone but several of the community are suffering from coming into contact with the hairs which blow in the wind.

"They're actually eating everything", says lifeboat coxswain Dave Steenvorden.

"It's actually becoming a really difficult problem, it looks like we've all got chicken-pox".

Dave's wife has contracted an eye infection from the problem.

Colleague Steve Purvis is also affected. "I've got a bad rash on my arms; it's really red and blotchy and has spread all over my body. It's difficult to sleep at night".

Twenty-eight people live here including several children. One mother, Steph Fisk says, "It's worse for the children who pick them up and don't realise what they're going to get". It's not just Spurn point which is affected.

Health warnings

On the opposite bank of the estuary, North East Lincolnshire Council is also trying to deal with problems caused by the caterpillars.

They are urging people not to touch the creatures and have issued health advice to anyone who does come into contact with them.

The caterpillars are a rare visitor from southern England and have no natural predator. It's thought they will be a continuing problem until later in the summer when they are expected to spend four weeks cocooned before they turn into moths. But this is likely to mean a breeding population will become established.

The explosion in caterpillar numbers is being attributed to last month's warm weather. Their breeding cycle includes the construction of white "tents" where the caterpillars spend the winter.

Destroying these is regarded as the most effective way of controlling the population. But it is unclear whether doing this will be allowed on the nature reserve of Spurn Point.

Yesterday the Pride of the Humber crew spent the day at sea testing some new equipment well away from their furry foes.

Today they will be back fidgeting and scratching on land and will perhaps not be too disappointed if they are called out.

Wow, I didn't realise the damn things released airborne toxic barbs. These things aren't 'caterpillars', they're some kind of bizarro Zergapillars.

[Bounty]

For those that speak Dutch, the headlines of the past few days:

Governor of Limburg Steve 'Stunt' Stevaert "feeling an itch already"; warns that caterpillar invasion is no laughing matter; requests immediate army reinforcements

Governor demands extra personnel to halt invasion; shortages of flamethrowers and hazmat suits reported; local councils fighting caterpillars with improvised weapons

Caterpillars invade town of Zele; 20% of oaks already under caterpillar control; firefighters and caterpillars clash in streets; population of Zele "hopeful".

Caterpillars conquer town of Zele

Caterpillar forces cross provincial borders; "several thousand" caterpillars reported in Schaffen; locals use improvised flamethrowers to counter-attack; forced to retreat

Caterpillars start 11-pronged attack of town of Diest; Molenstede and Schaffen hit worst; caterpillars reported on Citadel

Caterpillars march on capital

[Dartzap]

Good gravy, there must be some sort of predator that could be brought in to aid in the battle against these buggers?

[Bounty]

Good gravy, there must be some sort of predator that could be brought in to aid in the battle against these buggers?

The official policy at this point is "kill it with fire". No natural predators have been said to be an effective weapon so far.

[Colonel Olrik]

population of Zele "hopeful".

Caterpillars conquer town of Zele

They do tell us not to laugh, but

Being serious, who wants to take bets that this bug invasion can be directly linked to the super hot Winter/Spring we just had? We'll have more of this.

[Dartzap]

Good gravy, there must be some sort of predator that could be brought in to aid in the battle against these buggers?

The official policy at this point is "kill it with fire". No natural predators have been said to be an effective weapon so far.

Seagulls. Kill two birds with one stone, as it were.. You can have ours, we have millions.

What? They eat anything.

[darthbob88]

Good gravy, there must be some sort of predator that could be brought in to aid in the battle against these buggers?

My father worked in Noxious Weed Control for a while, so I have some knowledge of this. Most simply, what do you do with the predators? It may not be an exact analogy, but while cinnabar moths work well at controlling tansy ragwort, our Australian members can tell you what happened when the cane toad was introduced to combat pests eating sugar cane.

[Dartzap]

Aye, quite true. Ah well. Have fun Bounty. may your loins be full of hairy little bugsin whatever afterlife you reach

[Shroom Man 777]

Good gravy, there must be some sort of predator that could be brought in to aid in the battle against these buggers?

If that predator can bleed, they can kill it.

Whoever wins, we lose.

Whatever that predator is, I'm sure it'll be one ugly motherfucker.



I guess DDT is out of the question, is it? How about those species of wasps that lay chestbursters inside caterpillars?

[Molyneux]

Good gravy, there must be some sort of predator that could be brought in to aid in the battle against these buggers?

If that predator can bleed, they can kill it.

Whoever wins, we lose.

Whatever that predator is, I'm sure it'll be one ugly motherfucker.



I guess DDT is out of the question, is it? How about those species of wasps that lay chestbursters inside caterpillars?

Ichneumon? That might deal with a few of them...then again, it might not. And then you'd have a WASP infestation to deal with.

Oh, and by the way - it's six-legged freaks. Caterpillars are still insects. ^_^

[Winston Blake]

For those that speak Dutch, the headlines of the past few days:

[snip]

Am I the only one getting reminded of the War Against the Chtorr?



I mean, that cover pretty much speaks for itself. He's even wielding a flamethrower.

[Sam Or I]

I for one welcome our new Ur-Quan overlords

[wautd]

It aint pretty