Oak Procession Spinner Time has begun

Federal Environmental Agency warns against fast oak-procession-combat

05/04/2014

The oak procession season has begun and with it the dispute over the proper handling of the butterfly caterpillars. The animals can cause various health problems in humans. Nevertheless, the Federal Environment Agency warns against the too rapid use of a chemical or biological club against oak processionary spinners.

Federal Environmental Agency warns against chemical and biological club
The oak procession season has begun, and as every year, this is a controversy over how best to meet the animal. The Federal Environment Agency is now warning against over-use of a chemical or biological club against the dangerous oak processionary spinners. „This fight not only affects the pest, but inadvertently kills other creatures as well. First, it should be examined where and if infestation can be tolerated“, said the Vice President of the Authority, Thomas Holzmann. In Brandenburg, the Naturschutzbund (Nabu) wants to ban the spreading of poison against the butterfly caterpillar even in court.

Allergic reactions due to caterpillar hair
Usually the caterpillars of the oak processionary spiders hatch between the end of April and the beginning of May. First, they are yellowish-brown, later bluish-black and up to five inches long. From a certain point of time, they grow poisonous hairs, which break off easily and can be carried through the air for more than 100 meters. These can cause severe allergic reactions in humans. The Federal Environment Agency, which has its headquarters in Dessau-Roßlau (Saxony-Anhalt), explained that chemical or biological control in oak forests may only be carried out if the balding of the oak processionary moth threatens the death of entire forests. It is disputed, however, whether this really occurs, as oaks can drive out after a Kahlfraß again.

Problems for forestry and health
Humanly-used areas could be temporarily closed instead of fighting. In addition, the caterpillars could also be sucked by professional pest controllers, if only individual trees were infested. The name of the animals is due to the fact that they move behind or next to one another during foraging as in a procession. According to data from the Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants (Julius Kühn-Institut), the heat-loving oak processionary spinner is spreading due to climate changes. In addition to problems for the forestry, this also represents a health hazard. If the poisonous caterpillar hair, which are formed from the third instar, come into contact with the skin or be inhaled, threatening health problems. This can cause symptoms such as skin irritations, eye irritation and respiratory problems or even asthma attacks.

Oak processionary moth in the past few years, widespread
Especially in the northeast and southwest of Germany, the oak processionary spinner had massively spread in recent years. But also parts of North Rhine-Westphalia were affected. At present, the control of caterpillars begins in several states. For example, in Hesse, where in several cities, both on the ground and from the air, the animals are attacked. In the east of Frankfurt, for example, helicopters were used to spray an insecticide on trees in various forests. Also in places like Darmstadt or Offenbach came or comes to the employment of biological pesticides.

Nabu wants to stop the spraying of poison in court
In Brandenburg, the Naturschutzbund (Nabu) wants to stop the spraying of poison against oak processionary spinners in court. It is about the use of biocides „Dimilin“, „Dipel It“ and „karate“. The Nabu wants to act against the injunctions issued by the country and the counties. As it was said, the main criticism was that the nature conservation associations were not involved in the proceedings as public authorities. According to the conservationists, the massive use of insecticides could also damage up to 214 other butterfly species. As the Federal Government's information on a small request from the Left Party shows, fighting the caterpillars cost the federal states several million euros last year. The state of Brandenburg alone paid 4.5 million euros and Berlin had to spend 400,000 euros. (Ad)