Tent caterpillar population threatens horse farms

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Officials at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture are warning horse farm owners to be wary of an usually high tent caterpillar population.

The warning comes after the state lost nearly 30 percent of its foal crop in 2001 due to mare reproductive loss syndrome, which scientists attributed to the large number of tent caterpillars in the area.

Scientists said the mares contracted the syndrome by inadvertently digesting the caterpillars, whose hairs would cause tiny punctures in the digestive tract that let in bacteria that would compromise the foals.

So far there have been no reports of foals lost to the syndrome, though officials say the cool spring means the caterpillars are still a few weeks behind in hatching.