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ARCHIVED - Public urged to report sightings of pine processionary caterpillars in Orihuela
Orihuela council is remvoing processionary caterpillars in the Vega Baja town
Orihuela Town Hall continues to wage war against pine processionary caterpillars and is now urging members of the public living in urban areas of the town to report sightings of the pesky pests so that they can be removed safely.
Concessionary company CTL S.L began the annual processionary control campaign to combat the insects last December with the aerial treatment of pine trees in 62 areas of the town considered "problematic".
This treatment was carried out using a biological product to avoid the formation of pockets and eradicate the caterpillars which die when they feed on the treated needles of the pine trees.
But between January and February, the caterpillars, which pose a serious threat to inquisitive pets, commonly drop from their nests of spun filaments to the ground and form nose-to-tail processions in search of soft, warm earth in which to begin their metamorphosis.
This is when the threat to dogs and cats is at its highest, as animals are often attracted by the bittersweet smell and taste of the processionaries, with potentially fatal results if the poisonous brittle hairs released when the caterpillar feels threatened become embedded in the tongue.
For this reason, there may be more problems with hives and allergic reactions to the caterpillars in January, so the Department of the Environment, through the concessionary company, is providing a service for the removal and subsequent management of pockets of caterpillars that may have formed in "sensitive" areas.
Councillor for the Environment, Dámaso Aparicio, explained that whilst the planned and organised treatment will continue over the next few weeks, the service is available to deal with any "outbreaks", and is urging anybody who spots nests or processions of caterillars to notify the council by email: medioambiente@orihuela.es
Over the next few days, treatment is been carried out to remove pockets of the pests in Entrenaranjos, Soto I6 and Calle Cabo Ortegal.
Next week, eradication will take place in Calles Hawaii and Laguna Ruidera, Avenida de España, and Calles Mayor and San Francisco.
Image: @Bomberos_CT/Twitter
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