Endoterapia Vegetal
//, Ornamental/Oak processionary

Oak processionary

Oak processionary2019-02-28T13:46:36+00:00

Project Description

Fig. a – Caterpillars of Thaumetopoea processionea.
Fig. b – Caterpillars of Thaumetopoea processionea.
Lepidopteran insect that is very rare in our country. In its adult stage, it has a wingspan of 25 to 35 mm, it is brown and whitish, very similar to the colour of the oak bark, so they go quite unnoticed. The caterpillars are yellowish in colour, with black stripes on the back and long hairs that contain a very urticating toxin that is dangerous to people and animals (Fig. a and Fig. b).

They spend the winter in egg form and it is in spring when the caterpillars emerge and start to feed. In their sixth instar, they enter their chrysalis sack, where they go through metamorphosis. At the end of August, the adult moths emerge and mate. Then, they lay eggs for the next generation that will be born the following year. They have an annual generation.

This is an infrequent pest in our country, but it causes serious damage to the oaks, leaving them partially or completely defoliated. In addition, this pest is very dangerous for humans and animals, as the caterpillar releases very urticating hairs that cause serious anaphylactic reactions.

Since this is a rare pest in our country, normally curative treatments are always carried out. The optimal time for treatment should be when the first caterpillars are detected.

Project Details

Common name:
OAK PROCESSIONARY.
Scientific name:
Thaumetopoea processionea.
Affected plants:
Species of the genus Quercus.

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ENDOterapia Vegetal
C/ Ripollès, 23 - Pol. Ind. el Pla CP. 17486 - Castelló d'Empúries Girona - Spain
Tel.: +34 972 158 889 Fax: +34 972 158 890
info@endoterapiavegetal.com

Feder
ENDOterapia Vegetal, S.L. en el marco del Programa ICEX Next, ha contado con el apoyo de ICEX y con la cofinanciación de fondo europeo FEDER. La finalidad de esta apoyo es contribuir al desarrollo internacional de la empresa y de su entorno.