Record infestation of oak processionary moths: Dessau on alert!

Record infestation of oak processionary moths: Dessau on alert!

In Dessau-Roßlau, a severe infestation of oak processionary moths is causing a stir. A record number of affected trees have been identified this year and the city government is reporting more affected trees than ever before. The new areas of Mildensee, the south of Törten and the Mosigkauer Heide, which has been identified as a hotspot, are particularly affected star reported.

The reason for this larger infestation is the dry and warm temperatures between March and June. In response to the situation, the city administration is increasing the scope of control measures. After a break was scheduled last year, the fight against the caterpillars is now being actively carried out from the air again. In order to get the situation under control, the city has invested a total of around 410,000 euros in combating it.

Diverse control strategies

The fight is not only done through chemical methods. The establishment of birds is also considered as a natural approach to keep the pests at bay. In addition, the vacuuming of around 9,500 nests on 390 trees will begin in June in order to further counteract the oak processionary moth World highlights.

The oak processionary moth's stinging hairs are a serious threat to health. On contact they can cause severe skin irritation and difficulty breathing. The caterpillars reach a length of up to three centimeters and are either brown-yellow or gray-black in color. They live in groups that move in closed colonies and their nests can be the size of a football.

Problems in the area

This problem is not only limited to Dessau-Roßlau. Infected trees were also recorded in Drömling, on the border between Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, despite the biological and chemical control taking place there. In Magdeburg, on the other hand, people acted with foresight and combated the pests preventively.

The Dessau-Wörlitz Cultural Foundation, which is also affected by this problem area, has put up information signs at the park entrances. These measures are intended to inform visitors about the dangerous situation and thus exclude any additional health risks. The city of Dessau-Roßlau and its neighboring communities are faced with the task of efficiently combating the oak processionary moth while at the same time protecting the health of their citizens.