The presence of processionary caterpillar has activated a coordinated deployment between regional and local administrations to reduce risks in mountains and urban areas. Surveillance tasks are combined, preventive treatments and warnings to citizens during periods of greatest insect activity.
Although it does not seriously compromise the forest mass, it does generate public health problems due to its stinging hairs, which can cause irritation and allergic reactions in humans and animals. Therefore, phased actions have been planned, including endotherapy, pheromone traps, nest boxes for insectivorous fauna and treatments with Bacillus thuringiensis.
Madrid activates a preventive plan in its pine forests
In the Community of Madrid, the Body of Forest Agents has assessed the situation during the months of February and March, with surveys in 568 pine forest stands and monitoring at 14 reference points to anticipate outbreaks. The goal is to adjust interventions to the actual dynamics of the pest in more than 65.000 hectares of pine masses.
The most sensitive areas are located in pine forests of Pinus pinaster from the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, as well as in formations of propagating through a pine forest (Pinus halepensis). from the east and southeast of the region. With this information, a schedule of staggered works is planned, with special attention to recreational areas and spaces with high traffic.
Dates, techniques and fieldwork
In summer, the installation of around 1.200 pheromone traps to capture males during the mating flight in areas with low infestation. Between September and October, 300 nest boxes for insectivorous birds and shelters for bats, strengthening the control of adult moths and investing in ecologically based solutions.
During October and November treatments will be used with bioinsecticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki using ground-based equipment, a selective option focused on larvae. And, between December and January, the placement of ring traps in areas of public use, where frequent passage of people and pets is detected.
Some councils have also scheduled night treatments In municipal pines, for example between 22:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., by spraying with products authorized by the Department of agriculture as Saditrina ULV Micro (18.554). A two-hour safety time and the areas will be marked to avoid unnecessary exposure and possible temporary road closures.
En schools is commonly used endotherapy, injecting the phytosanitary product into the trunk so that it is distributed throughout the vascular system of the tree. The authorities recommend pine owners On private plots, take advantage of autumn to treat, relying on specialized companies that indicate the most appropriate method according to each case.
Municipalities on the move: from endotherapy to neighborhood alerts
New ones are expected in Moralzarzal control work subject to weather conditions, with an estimated completion period of mid-November. These actions prioritize areas with the greatest presence of the insect to minimize discomfort and injuries, with informative posters in access and precautionary recommendations for hikers and mountain users.
San Roque has commissioned a specialized company to endotherapy of pine trees in urban areas, with priority given to schools and busy spaces. The intervention covers around 300 copies and seeks to eliminate the processionary caterpillar before it forms winter nests. In the first months of the year, if necessary, it will be supplemented with spot fumigations and nest removal, a strategy that in previous campaigns has achieved reductions close to 90%.
Injections have started in Ronda more than 300 pines and cedars distributed throughout different neighborhoods and parks. This method, safe for auxiliary fauna, focuses its action on the pest and offers a prolonged protection which can extend over several years, reinforcing prevention in areas with the regular presence of pets and families.
The municipality of Torrent keeps his periodic control campaign in gardens and schools, after detecting a higher incidence in untreated specimens. Autumn prevention is emphasized through endotherapy to avoid problems in spring, and remember the double impact of the plague: defoliation and weakening of the trees, and effects on health, especially in childhood and pets.
Biodiversity and Safety: Bats, Schools, and Pets
Alba de Tormes has reinforced the biologic control installing bat nest boxes in green areas of the El Pinar de Alba development. These bats consume adult moths in summer, reducing egg laying and helping to balance the urban ecosystem; they also contribute to containing other nuisance species like mosquitoes.
Know the life cycle of Thaumetopoea pityocampa helps to act at the right time: in summer butterflies emerge and reproduce; in autumn the larvae hatch and form the pockets; at the end of winter (February-March) they descend in the well-known processions to be buried; in spring They pupate underground until the cycle restarts. The most problematic phases for health coincide with the presence of caterpillars and their stinging hairs.
For this reason, the authorities insist on taking extreme measures Precautions During the months of soil activity: avoid touching rows, monitor the Pets and observe the temporary signage for the work. Even though the treatments significantly reduce the presence of the pest, trichomes They can remain in the environment and continue to cause irritation if nests or remains are removed without protection.
Inside and outside of schools, the combination of measures —endotherapy in trees, traps of pheromones, bioinsecticides, nest boxes and spot checks—allows for a comprehensive approach. The approach of Sustainable management It not only seeks to alleviate immediate discomfort, but also to stabilize insect populations in the medium term through natural predators and preventative measures.
The joint strategy of institutions and municipalities is moving forward with clear timelines, complementary methods, and public warnings to minimize risks. Maintaining the caution on key dates, respect the signs in Parkland and coordinating the care of public and private pine forests are essential elements to reducing impacts on health and natural heritage.
