With the warm season of the year, the fight against the oak processionary moth begins again in Brandenburg. “Due to the warm weather conditions of the past two years, the oak processionary moth had consistently good development and distribution conditions,” said the Ministry of the Environment on request. The butterfly with the allergy-triggering hairs of its caterpillars is now widespread throughout Brandenburg. The districts of Prignitz, Ostprignitz-Ruppin, Oberhavel, Havelland, Potsdam-Mittelmark and Teltow-Fläming are most affected.
Because the young caterpillars feed on the freshly expelled leaves in oak trees, damage to trees and shrubs is possible after several years of infestation. So far, however, no control measures with biocides have been planned in the state forests, said a ministry spokesman. Local occurrences of the oak processionary moth would continue to be monitored.
On the other hand, the State Office for Roads already started last week to combat the harmful butterflies Oak Processionary Moth and Goldafter in the area of the Beeskow road maintenance department. An insecticide is sprayed from the ground into infested street trees. In the municipalities, the environmental offices are responsible for the measures. (dpa)
