A small night butterfly may cause troubles

Last Monday, the ESA office in Guyana forwarded to the MSG-3 teams a warning notice about the risk associated to a small night butterfly: the Ashen moth (Hylesia Metabus) or papillon cendre in French, which can cause dermatosis called lepidopterism.

At dusk, these butterflies start flying and can be met close to light sources and mangroves. This flight episode lasts from 19h to 23h. While in flight, females drop microscopic stinging arrows in order to protect their eggs from predators. These tiny arrows contain poisonous substances which, once in contact with the skin or mucosa, cause pruritic rashes, local itching. Edemas can be observed in the most severe reactions.

The reproduction cycle of the butterfly lasts about 3 to 4 months. Caterpillars becomes butterflies 3 to 4 time a year.
Due to the blooming numbers of those butterflies in Cayenne last Tuesday, the local newspaper, France-Guyane, used the word "invasion" reporting  that two primary schools were obliged to close for obvious safety reasons. According to France Guyane, the "worst is to come"... Local heath authorities are taking this threat seriously and Guyane Premiere TV reported at the news this evening a status on the issue with ad-hoc prevention measures.

Here under is the cover of the small leaflet each one will get for those who will still travel in the near future to French Guyana to support the MSG campaign.

Don't  panic! you will get all the prevention details once on site, but don't forget to pack well covering clothes. Long sleeves shirts for instance and slippers to prevent walking bare foot may also prove to be useful.

By the way, they are many other butterflies in French Guyana as the Blue Morpho we saw last Sunday in the rain forest, and those  are harmless and extremely beautiful to observe!

Credits Wikipedia Morho Melenaus