The City Council applies almost 3,000 treatments on pine trees to treat them against the processionary caterpillar and avoid health problems in people and pets.

This treatment has been carried out in green areas, public parks and in the vicinity of educational centers.

The Estepona City Council reports that has just completed the campaign to eliminate the processionary caterpillar of pine trees in the city. This is an action that is done periodically by the damage that can cause this insect both in trees, as it seriously affects the foliation and weakens them, as in people and pets.

The pine processionary is the first Spanish forest pest and opens the way to other opportunistic pests, hence the importance of acting against it. The caterpillar and its stinging hairs are also a public health problem, causing not only rashes but also allergic reactions.

Thus, to combat this insect, the Consistory annually applies a total of 2,800 injections in pine trees, at a rate of 3 applications per specimen, although in large ones it has even supplied 5 units. The City Council has focused this action in public parks, in large areas of pine forests, in the vicinity of schools and in green areas.

The application of the products is done by endotherapy, an alternative method of phytosanitary treatment of urban trees with low environmental impact, since it does not emit chemicals into the environment. In addition, it is fast, simple and without investment in machinery, which also saves on water and energy consumption.

The applicator operators are part of the gardening staff, who have received the necessary training and have the phytosanitary applicator’s license required by RD 1311.

The best application strategy against the processionary moth is preventive treatment from the beginning of October. This treatment is included in the annual phytosanitary calendar in the municipal green areas, and the action protocol is managed and supervised by a phytosanitary advisor, who prepares both the annual calendar and the prior advice document.