Hungry caterpillars on the march in your Gold Coast backyard

SPIKY armies of caterpillars are on the march for food in your backyard early this year, with a seemingly endless highway of the hairy creatures even surprising the experts.

PLAGUES of hairy caterpillars are invading the Gold Coast with experts warning a sting from their hairs could result in serious injury or death.

The creepy crawlies, which have been boggling locals, are Bag Shelter moth larvae feeding before hibernating for the winter.

AMAZING GOLD COAST WILDLIFE GALLERY

It is not unusual for them to be out in numbers at this time of year on the Coast, but Pegasus environmental director Murray Waugh said he had not seen such large numbers in 22 years.

Bag shelter moth larvae caterpillars are out in big numbers on the Gold Coast. Photo: Supplied.

Mr Waugh said he had one call last week and two calls on Saturday from clients who had found armies of them in their yards.

“I have never seen them in such a large congregated infestation as that before,” he said.

“Normally there are just individual lines across pathways and across lawns instead of a highway like that.”

The nest of the bag-shelter moth's caterpillar life stage, made from faeces and skin.

TRAM PASSENGERS MOBBED BY FLYING ANTS

Queensland Museum’s senior curator for entomology, Chris Burwell, advised residents to steer clear of them, especially children.

Bag shelter moth larvae caterpillars are out in big numbers on the Gold Coast. Photo: Supplied.

He said he knew of one case of a child losing sight in one eye after one of the caterpillar’s hairs was lodged in it.

“Those hairs on the body are barbed and brittle and can pierce the skin and cause unpleasant rash or dermatitis severe allergic reactions ... which in the worst case could result in an anaphylactic shock and possibly death,” he said.

He said the caterpillars usually hatched in May but this year had come out early to feast on Acacia trees.