Filenews 17 March 2023 - by Angelos Nicolaou
There is an increase in the incidence of attacks by caterpillars on civilians, but also pets due to the strong presence of the insect pityocampus. Especially this year, due to the weather conditions that prevailed in the last months of 2022, an epidemic is observed in the forest areas, with a serious risk to those who visit parks and pine forests that have strong infestations by the insect pityocampus. According to veterinarians, the symptom rate in dogs is up 50% compared to last year. Rashes are present in both children and adults, causing allergies in several areas of Cyprus, mainly in mountainous areas.
The deputy director of the Department of Forests, Andreas Christou, told "F" that the pityocampus, known as the pine caterpillar, is an insect that causes serious problems to forests, but also to humans, if they comes into direct contact with it.
Pityocambi eats the needles of pine trees, affecting their appearance. According to Mr. Christou, this insect is found in the forests of Cyprus and every year we have an infestation on pine trees. This year there is an outbreak, which has taken an epidemic form. "The epidemic is due to the weather conditions that prevailed in October and November, ideal for the hatching of a caterpillar and in the early stages of its development", said Mr. Christou, pointing out that in the mountains the pines begin to be affected from October and in the lowlands a month later.
With their hatching the caterpillars eat the needles of pine trees and at the same time build temporary nests. In the spring months we are going through, they leave the pine trees and enter the ground to transform into chrysalides. In the summer they appear as butterflies and lay their eggs in the fall on the pines.
Mr. Christou pointed out that every year the Department of Forests carries out a population control program of the caterpillar that includes aerial and ground spraying with biological drugs imported from the USA and harmless to the environment and humans. Spraying is carried out in parks and picnic areas, but also along roads near residential areas for aesthetic reasons. The deputy director of the Forestry department said that the sprayings are limited in time and are carried out in the period October- November and early December. He added that once the caterpillar grows, spraying has no effect. He reassured the citizens by noting that the trees do not dry out and at the end of May- beginning of June, the pine trees recover by taking out new needles and the greenery is restored.
People, noted Mr. Andreou, who visit pine-covered areas should exercise special care and not touch the caterpillars and nests.
Those who show symptoms after visiting forests and parks, it is advisable to inform their personal doctor.
Asked to comment on complaints to "F" that the aerial spraying did not take place this year, Mr. Andreou said that most of the drug have been used. Around 10 tons of biological drug was imported. He explained that it is a large area of forests and cannot be sprayed everywhere. In Cyprus, he noted that the rough pine is more affected and rarely the black pine, while the pine cone is not affected either.
LAONA FOUNDATION
Strategic plan with targeted actions
The senior research officer of the LAONA Foundation, Maria Skender, in a letter to the competent bodies informs them that climate change has significantly affected the development of pityocampus, with the models showing that the increase in temperature in combination with the decrease in rainfall, will lead to a further increase in its populations. She points out that we can no longer rely either on the natural treatment of the insect, nor on the resilience of the trees. To this end, it proposes the creation of an integrated strategic plan for the treatment of pityocampus. She points out that in other European countries such as France, England and Spain, huge projects are being implemented to deal with pityocampus that include preventive, mechanical and biological treatment measures. Starting from the correct selection of forest planting species (especially in the peri-urban environment), the rapid removal of affected branches in cities, the placement of pheromone traps to reduce populations in places accessible to citizens, such as forest parks, and most importantly from citizen information campaigns.
