Less damage from oak processionary spinners

This year less oak procession cracker infestation

08/12/2014

This year, oak processioners in Brandenburg have damaged fewer oak trees than in previous years. One reason for this is seen in pest control. In humans, skin contact with the hair of caterpillars can cause skin problems.

Less damage this year
According to a news agency dpa, oak tree processioners have damaged less oak trees in Brandenburg this year than in previous years. According to the forest protection information of the Landeskompetenzzentrum Forst Eberswalde (LFE), 4,100 hectares of oak forest were affected at the end of July. In the previous year, it was in the same period still around 5,000 hectares and in 2012 even 5,800. The pest control is mentioned as a reason for the decline. The oak processionary moth has been fought on 1,360 hectares of forest in the current season.

Conservationists criticize the spraying of poison
However, conservationists criticize the spraying of poison. The massive use of insecticides would also threaten other butterfly species. The Oberförsterei Gadow in the Prignitz complained on the other hand, that was not allowed to be injected because of requirements of federal authorities in nature reserves. Therefore, the oak processionary spinner could have reproduced unhindered. With about 1,430 hectares, the Oberförsterei Neuendorf, which looks after the district of Oberhavel, reported the highest total infestation of oak percussion and other insects, but still gives the all-clear: Based on the forest size of 76,000 hectares, which looks after the Oberförsterei, that was an acceptable value. „The nests of the oak processionary moth are much smaller this year“, so head Frank-Michael Hintze.

Allergic reactions on skin contact
Already since 2002, the oak processionary spinner has been massively spreading in Brandenburg causing tree damage. In humans, the caterpillars of the caterpillars, which develop into butterflies, can cause allergic reactions on contact with the skin. This usually results in a relatively timely a very itchy rash, the so-called caterpillar dermatitis. The nettle poison leads to the typical symptoms of nettle fever with formation of red wheals at the site of the skin contact. In an older information brochure of the LFE it says: „The sensitivity and reaction intensity of the affected persons increases with the number of individual contacts.“ According to the experts of the LFE also threatened „General ailments like fever or dizziness.“ (Ad)