What to do if we find the dreaded processiones

Each time starts before and ends later. They carry thousands of years living with usbut more and more time with us are. The processionaries (Thaumetopoa Pityocampa) They descend from the pines to early February and fill the field of endless urticante rows until the end of May.

And that means that Pinar’s great nightmare is in full swing. What do you have to know yes or yes about these dangerous insects? What to do if we come into contact with them or do our dog?

What exactly are Pino’s processions? Although in the popular “processionary” imaginary it is the same as “urticating caterpillar”, these insects are actually Nocturnal moths or butterflies With a very interesting life cycle. This is interesting because, strictly speaking, they are not pests.

For what we know, the processionaires They do not kill the pines. You only feed “the acicles and do not touch the base of the leaf (yolk)”: that makes the trees weaken, yes; but Recovery capacity is huge.

Traditionally, the number of bags and caterpillars was changing according to the climatic conditions. The problem is that, in recent years and driven by climate change, there is more and more. That makes each time appear before and that they affect the pine forests. And if we add that greater weakness to increasingly intense climatic stress, the risks increase.

Problems for all. Because, beyond the pines, any living being that moves through a pine forest is in danger of being affected by them. Do not forget that, like Mar Fernández Nieto explainedallergologist of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation, “each caterpillar has a small hair, very urticantes, and that can be easily detached.” This implies a risk “not only by direct contact, but also by air through the effect of wind currents, since, if they feel threatened, they can throw these hairs in the air.”

In the case of dogs, especially brancos for their propensity to track, you have to be careful. And, in fact, it is recommended not frequent areas with processing these days (or, if you have to do so, always take them short to avoid curlying). There are apps that help you discard dangerous places.

What do we do before a contact? As Fernández Nieto pointed out“The mechanism involved in the production of this reaction is usually the mechanic or irritative, although sometimes a true allergy picture occurs.” Therefore, before a contact, “the first thing to do is throw cold water in the affected area, to remove the possible hairs that have been hooked on the skin, and calm the attacked skin.”

“Although it is not an allergic reaction, since histamine has been released, treatment with an antihistamine will alleviate the symptoms of affected people.” In the case of dogsit is advisable to pay attention to excess salivation in addition to possible inflammatory reactions.

In the event that an allergy is triggered (inflammation of the face and/or eyes, generalized urticaria, difficulty breathing and even anaphylactic reactions), it is best to seek medical or veterinary assistance.

Can we end them? The central issue is that we cannot exterminate them without producing large damage in the ecosystem. As explained in Creafthe pine processionary “is fully integrated into the trophic network. It is food, in all vital phases (eggs, caterpillars, chrysalids and butterflies), for many predators: other insects, insectivorous birds such as blacks, abubillas, cucos, bats.” If we ended them, we would have many more problems.

The key is to control them.

But can they be controlled? It is something complex, of course. Above all, because managing real environments is complicated, but there is various systems to which it can be used.

• Ecological Control: We can take advantage of the same trophic chain for it. The bats eat moths when they arise from the ground, the herrerillos eat the caterpillars in the trees and abubillas when they are already buried. Therefore, the populations of these animals can be encouraged (with nest boxes, for example) and let them work.
• Physical control: Eliminating tree bags during winter. There are various ways to do it, but it is always recommended that professionals or experiences with experience be carried out. Urticante compounds are there and can cause huge problems.
• Chemical control: Above all, with pheromones. Traps with pheromones are placed that attract males and thus prevents females from fertilizing.

In addition, when the affectation is very large, it can be fumigated with some bacteria that we know end with the caterpillars. The problem is that they are small ‘weapons of mass destruction’ and “affects other butterflies, flies, beetles and nematodes.”

Image | OLEI | Mangatome

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