True setae borne on the abdominal tergites of Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich-Schӓffer caterpillars are the agents of an irritating contact dermatitis, osteomyelitis, ophthalmia, and severe allergic reactions in humans, and are the cause of Equine Amnionitis and Fetal Loss in Australia. The setae are detached and readily dislodge from the integument whereby they disperse throughout the environment. To better understand the true setae of O. lunifer as agents of medical and veterinary concern, we studied their characteristics and distance dispersed. Whereas members of the European Thaumetopoeinae have been widely studied, their southern-hemisphere counterparts such as O. lunifer are not well known despite their harmfulness and known medical and veterinary importance. The caterpillar's investment in true setae increased with age and size, and two distinct size classes co-occurred in setae fields. A previously undescribed morphological type of true seta was found on the first abdominal segment. All true setae were calculated to travel long distances in the air even under light breeze conditions. Our results show there is a high risk of exposure to airborne urticating setae within 100 m of elevated caterpillar activity, and a likely risk of exposure for some kilometers in the direction of the prevailing breeze. This information should be used to inform management strategies in areas where urticating processionary caterpillars are active, and especially during periods of an outbreak.

中文翻译：

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澳大利亚行进的毛毛虫Ochrogaster lunifer（鳞翅目：Notodontidae）的排尿器具的形态和空气传播分布的变化，以及对牲畜和人类的影响。

产于Ochrogaster luniferHerrich-Schӓffer毛虫的腹部的真核科是刺激性接触性皮炎，骨髓炎，眼炎和人类严重过敏反应的媒介，是澳大利亚马羊膜炎和胎儿流失的原因。刚毛分离并且很容易从外皮中移出，从而散布在整个环境中。为了更好地了解作为医学和兽医关注因子的O. lunifer的真正刚毛，我们研究了它们的特性和分散的距离。尽管已经对欧洲丘脑藻科的成员进行了广泛的研究，但是它们在南半球的对应物种，例如O. lunifer，尽管具有危害性，并且在医学和兽医学上具有重要意义，但仍不为人所知。毛毛虫对真刚毛的投资随着年龄和体型的增加而增加，刚毛田中同时出现了两个不同的大小类。在第一腹部节段发现了先前未曾描述过的真Seta的形态学类型。计算得出，即使在微风条件下，所有真正的刚毛都可以在空气中长距离传播。我们的结果表明，在毛虫活动升高的100 m内，有很高的暴露于空气传播的荨麻科的风险，并且有可能在盛行的微风中暴露数公里。该信息应用于在小规模活动性毛毛虫活跃的地区（尤其是在爆发期间）为管理策略提供信息。计算得出，即使在微风条件下，所有真正的刚毛都可以在空气中长距离传播。我们的结果表明，在毛虫活动升高的100 m内，有很高的暴露于空气传播的荨麻科的风险，并且有可能在盛行的微风中暴露数公里。该信息应用于在小规模活动性毛毛虫活跃的地区（尤其是在爆发期间）为管理策略提供信息。计算得出，即使在微风条件下，所有真正的刚毛都可以在空气中长距离传播。我们的结果表明，在毛虫活动升高的100 m内，有很高的暴露于空气传播的荨麻科的风险，并且有可能在盛行的微风中暴露数公里。该信息应用于在小规模活动性毛毛虫活跃的地区（尤其是在爆发期间）为管理策略提供信息。