“In the month of June, the next treatment against the pine processionary beetle is coming” / Stara Zagora News

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The upcoming activities to limit and destroy the population of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa, a type of caterpillar and moth) in parks in Stara Zagora, affected by the pest, will begin in June – announced the deputy mayor in charge of Transport, Ecology, Investments and Green Transition ” of Stara Zagora Municipality Radostin Tanev.

The active intervention of the Municipality of Stara Zagora and TP “State Forestry – Stara Zagora” in the fall of 2023 failed to destroy the pest. Spraying was carried out by the municipality on over 400 decares of territory, of which “Metropolitan Metodiy Kusev” park, the forest massifs above “Tri chuchura – sever” quarter and “Dabrava” quarter, as well as another 214 decares of municipal and 3800 decares of state , processed by forestry.

The population was partially limited because the activities took place in an urbanized environment and the fight was biological. The use of chemical insecticides is also inadmissible, because biological diversity will be disturbed.

“The pine processionary has no natural enemies and fighting it is very difficult, but all the measures taken will be a barrier to the spread of the population.” – commented Radostin Tanev

Therefore, an expert commission of landscape architects and forest services was formed, which inspected the condition of the tree species in Metropolitan Metodiy Kusev Park. Specialists decided to implement complex treatment, which will take place in several stages.

In the month of March this year, the mechanical removal of the pine processionary nests began in the listed areas.

Mechanical removal involves cutting out the nests of the larval pests in the trees with a forklift and collecting them in a plastic bag, which will be finally burned in an incinerator.

“Pheromone traps will begin in June and spraying will take place again at the end of September. For this purpose, we will request permission for the activities to be carried out with drones,” explained Deputy Mayor Tanev.

The volatile hairs of the pine cone are dangerous and cause rashes, and in more sensitive people and pets, they can lead to respiratory problems and allergic reactions. Therefore, it is recommended not to touch the caterpillars and whiteflies on the trees with bare hands.

Recommendations from RIOSV-Stara Zagora to citizens in contact with the caterpillar are not to touch or approach the caterpillars or their nests. Do not allow your pets to approach the caterpillars or nests. In case of contact with pine cones, see a pharmacist for relief of skin or eye irritation. Consult a doctor if you think you have had a serious allergic reaction. See a veterinarian if you think your pet has been seriously affected.

The species “Pine Procession” was first described by Austrians in 1775, and since 1910 it has been known in Bulgaria. It is one of the most widespread pests in conifer plantations in the country. The name “procession” is related to the way the caterpillars of the species move, moving one after the other in a procession. The caterpillars feed on the needles of various types of pine, causing the trees to defoliate. The annual defoliation leads to a physiological weakening of the plants, but so far no individual tree or forest has died from their invasion.