Protecta Severe Infestation Kit for Pine Processionary Caterpillar Descent

To assemble your pine processionary caterpillar trap, you can watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbfmG6ilsEU&t=5s or refer to the product instructions.

The trap should be installed from January to March, depending on climatic zones (earlier by the coast and in the south, later elsewhere). Remove the collection bag at the end of May, for destruction at the pupal stage. In case of heavy infestation (more than 10 nests per tree), it is advisable to install 2 collection bags/trap to avoid any risk of caterpillars overflowing. When dismantling, wear gloves and a mask to avoid any irritation caused by bristles that may still be present around the trunk. Caution: the urticating hairs are also very prevalent in the final nests, and they can retain their urticating power for several years if kept dry.

The life cycle of the pine processionary caterpillar:

The pine processionary caterpillar is dangerous to humans and to domestic or farm animals. It is the larva of a moth whose Latin name is Thaumetopoea pityocampa, which feeds exclusively on pine needles, causing significant weakening of the trees. It is brown with orange markings and covered in hairs that secrete a fine, highly urticating dust to deter potential predators. Its adult form hatches during the summer, between June and September, depending on the climate. This moth is grey, with black patterns and whitish spots. Once fertilised, the female begins searching for a pine or cedar tree to lay her eggs. The most affected species are Austrian black pine, Corsican laricio, Salzman pine, Monterey pine, maritime pine, Scots pine and Aleppo pine. The eggs are laid in parallel rows, forming a silvery-grey sheath covered in scales, visible on the twigs or pine needles. Hatching occurs 5 to 6 weeks after laying, releasing caterpillars which moult three times before winter. The young caterpillars weave temporary nests where they spend the day. The larvae begin to eat the pine needles, initially quite discreetly, manifesting as the yellowing of a few tufts of needles here and there. The caterpillars then migrate in stages towards the top of the vegetation, always in search of food, each time rebuilding a new nest. These migrations are easily observable in fine weather, in the form of long processions that can gather several hundred individuals. At this stage, the young caterpillars are not yet stinging. At the fourth larval stage, they build a final, large nest, invariably facing south to store heat, where they will spend the winter. At this stage, the processions are nocturnal. In spring, the caterpillars leave the tree in procession to bury themselves in the soil in a sunny spot; they can travel up to 40 m to find the ideal spot where they will pupate before transforming into a moth when temperatures are sufficiently high. And the cycle begins again. Note that any plant growing near infested trees is likely to harbour pupae in its roots and contribute to their dispersal, as soon as it is transplanted or even moved during weeding.

To reinforce the fight against the pine processionary caterpillar, you can also apply a treatment with an organic insecticide based on Bacillus thuringiensis (BT kurtstaki, serotype 3a3b), or install pheromone traps that will neutralise the male moths. Also consider encouraging the establishment of predators. The cuckoo is the only bird that attacks the caterpillars, sometimes even fetching them from their nest. The tit, for its part, hunts the first larval form. The greatest predator of the processionary caterpillar is the larva of a beetle called the great ground beetle. The adult, which lives on the ground, has wings with metallic green highlights. It is sometimes seen climbing up tree trunks to seek its prey.