The Ville de Luxembourg has confirmed that it has temporarily closed the Bambësch children's playground due to the recent sightings of Oak Processionary caterpillars.
As the oak processionaries can damage trees by gnawing at the foliage, the risks of health and hygiene for humans can not be neglected. The caterpillars have many poisonous hollow hairs with barbs which can be dispersed over long distances by air flows, especially in hot and dry weather, and which can penetrate the skin of humans causing inflammation and / or itching of the skin.
As a precaution, the Ville de Luxembourg has completely closed the Bambësch playground and set up warning signs for visitors. Visitors are advised to keep clear of the trees in question and not to touch the caterpillar nests, the caterpillars themselves, moults or the trees concerned. The Ville de Luxembourg will organise the removal of the nesting of caterpillars on the trees by a specialised company.
For further information, contact the Natural Heritage Department, tel: 4796-2565.
Photo by Kleuske - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
