Processionary caterpillar, a risk for the family and a real danger for your dog
Pine processional caterpillar may cause mild skin reactions. In some allergic people, it may cause anaphylaxis. In the case of pets, the consequ...
The Processionary Caterpillar is a menace that can provoke severe allergic reactions and could also be lethal to dogs and cats. It also represents a high risk to the trees through the action of the larvae eating pine needles as this can lead to a quick death of the pine tree.
We provide an effective & ecological method to exterminate the pine tree processionary caterpillar in Mallorca
The Processionary Caterpillar is a menace that can provoke severe allergic reactions and could also be lethal to your pets.
Learn More…
…so-called Pine Processionary Caterpillar because of their habit of walking head to tail in search of food, it is probably the most dangerous insect in the Mediterranean region.
There may be hundreds of caterpillars seen walking nose to tail, winding along roadways, paths or golfing greens. The caterpillars are covered with brittle hairs, which cause a severe reaction when they come into contact with human skin. The hairs remain toxic even after the caterpillar has died and can also be carried in the air causing respiratory damage if breathed in.
The Endotherapy or trunk injection system offers a much more effective alternative for the treatment of trees than spraying, since the substances are directly injected to the vascular system of the tree.
This system provides an ecologic alternative for the treatment of trees as substances go directly to the tree resulting in much more efficient and fast results, without polluting the environment.
We inject by hand, pampering the pine. We do not use compressed air machinery that can damage the structure of the tree.
Pine processionary caterpillars represent a public health hazard because they have thousands of hairs which contain an urticating, or irritating, proteincalled thaumetopoein.
These hairs can be blown by the wind into contact with people resulting in painful skin irritations and rashes and, in some cases, serious allergic reactions.
Your dog may pick up the hairs on its paws and lick them because of an irritation. This will bring the hairs into contact with the mouth and nose. The lips, tongue, and nose can swell up to a huge size until the whole head is swollen.
The tongue may become so large and swollen that partial or full amputation may be necessary. You might also notice a very bad smell. Because of the swelling the air passages can also become blocked leading to suffocation and death.
Learn More…
← Drag right and left for all info →
The trunk injection method
The Endotherapy or trunk injection system offers a much more effective alternative for the treatment of trees than spraying, since the substances are directly injected to the vascular system of the tree.
This system provides an ecologic alternative for the treatment of trees as substances go directly to the tree resulting in much more efficient and fast results, without polluting the environment.
We inject by hand, pampering the pine. We do not use compressed air machinery that can damage the structure of the tree.
A threat for people
Pine processionary caterpillars represent a public health hazard because they have thousands of hairs which contain an urticating, or irritating, proteincalled thaumetopoein.
These hairs can be blown by the wind into contact with people resulting in painful skin irritations and rashes and, in some cases, serious allergic reactions.
A dog killer!
Your dog may pick up the hairs on its paws and lick them because of an irritation. This will bring the hairs into contact with the mouth and nose. The lips, tongue, and nose can swell up to a huge size until the whole head is swollen.
The tongue may become so large and swollen that partial or full amputation may be necessary. You might also notice a very bad smell. Because of the swelling the air passages can also become blocked leading to suffocation and death.
Endotherapy vs Spraying
Efficiency
By injecting the active ingredient directly into the sap of the tree, we ensure an even distribution of the product and the right amount to achieve a positive and immediate reaction.
Persistence
With a single application is sufficient in most cases to correct the deficiency or solve the problem that the tree from its pathology, staying in it between one or two years. Sprayed chemicals efficiency can decrease dramatically when it rains.
Speed of action
The time it takes the tree to absorb any of these shots, is between 30 seconds and 15 minutes depending on the state of the tree and variety of it.
Cleaning
Using this system, we avoid environmental pollution, especially in the case of pest management.
Other Plagues
Valid method for tackling other pests apart from the Processionary Caterpillar.
Less Efficient
While the tree injection is a localized infusion of liquids along the trunk, spraying might not reach every part of the tree, can be blown away by the wind and easily washed up with the rain.
Pollution
Spraying of chemicals pollute the environment, soil and water and can be extremely harmful to humans & animals.
Dangerous
If your have a small garden, the sprayed nutrient (poison) can affect other houses, schools, parks…
It´s more expensive!
While the trunk injection method protects your pines for one or two years, you´ll need to re-spray the trees periodically to ensure very single leaf has been watered after a few weeks, if it rains, if its windy (moths can fly from tree to tree), etc.
When shall we tackle the plague?
From the end of september to the end of december —slight variations can happen from year to year depending on the weather— is when the endotherapy treatment should be applied.
The tree will absorb the nutrient throughout its vascular system and will carry it all the way to the leaves just before the caterpillars start eating them.
When shall we tackle the plague?
From the end of september to the end of december —slight variations can happen from year to year depending on the weather— is when the endotherapy treatment should be applied.
The tree will absorb the nutrient throughout its vascular system and will carry it all the way to the leaves just before the caterpillars start eating them.
How do we work?
Tree Inspection & Pricing
We carefully inspect the plant to detect what disease or pest it suffers. We will let you know the total price of the treatment after thoroughly inspecting the trees.
Product Selection
We select, in each case, the most suitable phytosanitary product to inject in tree.
We apply the treatment by hand
We drill the tree and with our state-of-the-art injecting machinery we will inoculate the nutrient quickly and efficiently. We inject by hand, pampering the pine. We do not use compressed air machinery that can damage the structure of the tree.
Treatment Finished
The tree will be protected for a year, and in a short time you will see how the holes where the product has been injected are closed.
How do we work?
Tree Inspection & Pricing
We carefully inspect the plant to detect what disease or pest it suffers. We will let you know the total price of the treatment after thoroughly inspecting the trees.
Product Selection
We select, in each case, the most suitable phytosanitary product to inject in tree.
We apply the treatment by hand
We drill the tree and with our state-of-the-art injecting machinery we will inoculate the nutrient quickly and efficiently. We inject by hand, pampering the pine. We do not use compressed air machinery that can damage the structure of the tree.
Treatment Finished
The tree will be protected for a year, and in a short time you will see how the holes where the product has been injected are closed.
We recommend applying endotherapy to…
Private Gardens
Private house or community of neighbors: endotherapy cures the tree without affecting the environment
Hotels & Apartments
With endotherapy your trees will look healthy without clients noticing herbicides or insecticides.
Public Parks
Thanks to endotherapy it is possible to keep the trees healthy and protected without affecting the area.
School Gardens
School trees will remain healthy without affecting children playing in the treated area.
Blog latest entries…
Skin Reactions on Exposure to the Pine Processionary Caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)
The pine processionary caterpillar is the larval form of the Thaumetopoea pityocampa moth. Mediterranean forests regularly suffer plagues of thi...
Processionary Caterpillars – a big danger to pets in Mallorca.
The Pine Processionary Caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) is a common pest in the Balearics. Every Spring, residents must be on their guard w...
