'Killer' moth found at Kew Gardens » Environment » 24dash.com

Kew Gardens today moved to reassure visitors after a potentially deadly exotic moth was found at the world famous attraction.

Nests built by the Oak Processionary Moth - which can set off severe allergic reactions and irritate the lungs, eyes and skin as well as stripping leaves from oak trees - have been found at the Royal Botanical Gardens in west London.

But Kew's Head of Horticulture Nigel Taylor said that there was "absolutely no danger" at present after existing nests were torched.

The moth, which normally lives in southern Europe but has spread northward as a possible result of climate change, develops from caterpillars covered in hairs which contain toxins capable of causing severe irritation to humans.

The toxins have led to the closure of forests in other parts of Europe at certain parts of the year - usually late April to July.

While people in other parts of Europe are reported to have died from over-reactions to the hairs Mr Taylor said that description of it as a "killer moth" were overblown.

He said that deaths from reaction to the caterpillar hairs were comparable to those from bee or wasp stings.

Eggs laid on imported trees planted at a housing estate in west London are thought to have spread the moth to Kew earlier this year. The species was also reported to have been spotted at a nearby graveyard and close to the A40 road.

Last month men armed with blowtorches and hairspray - to stick the caterpillar hairs together - destroyed the nests on trees at Kew.

But experts have been unable to rule out the possibility that eggs laid elsewhere could hatch in the spring sparking a fresh infestation.

"I would reassure (visitors) that there is absolutely no danger at the moment and there is no possibility of any danger from it until at least late spring next year but we will be watching carefully," Mr Taylor said.

He said that the moth had been known to have reached Britain before but had not successfully over-wintered.

However he said that with the possibility of a mild winter, he could not rule out the possibility that eggs would survive.

"It worries me that it might go through the winter and we will have an infestation next spring," he said.

"But we don't know, there is no evidence that it will over-winter."

He added: "It is something that we have added to our 'risk register' if you like, but it is a matter of being diligent and monitoring the trend next year to see if a reinfestation occurs.

"There is no threat to the public at all at this time."

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "The Forestry Commission will study and monitor the threat to the trees and if necessary formulate advice to deal with this issue."

Climate change and the market for imported plants are thought to be responsible for bringing the moth and other species not usually present in the UK to the country.

The Oak Processionary Moth is already known to be established in the Netherlands.

A separate moth, the leaf miner, has caused widespread damage to horse chestnut trees this year - including at Kew - by attacking leaves, turning them brown and shrivelled.

Copyright Press Association 2006.