Re: Caterpillar infestation within oak trees

[R_Schra]

Hi Scott,

In duts its the eikenprocessierups, (oakprocessioncaterpillar??) (namedafter those katholic marches as those caterpilaars folow inline up/down the tree)

species name, Thaumetopoea processionea

First time i encounter them was when i had to prune over a 100 mature oaks in Belgium. I never seen them before in our region and just cut through those nests placed in the crotches. After two days i was totally shagged up by those needle hairs. It took me i think 3 to 4 days sickness before the itchy feeling reduced... After that i became VERY sensitive for those hairs. It is known that after beeing in contact you get more senisitive for them and that it can cause serious health problems, blindness and even death.

In the Netherlands they tested with Xentari WG wich is bacteria based. Theey use Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai. That bacteria produces some proteine and in the digestion of the caterpillar it forms toxines that causes the death in some time. (simular or the same to that product mentioned already)

When i have to prune infested oaks these days we carry a trailor with 1000 liter water so when we get down we can wash ourselfs. just strip off youre clothes and flush the needles off. It is most effective i can tell.

 

[120770]

Hey Ronald,

Cheers for your info that was mighty kind of you to do so, the climbers here at present are wearing these white spraying suits in the oak trees. Kind of look like climbing polar bears in the trees along with dust masks aswell, but kinds of helps if they take the mask of when asking for something out off the tree, as they pretty much sound like a bull dog chewing a wasp.

I never saw oak procession caterpillars when working in Holland either, they apparently spread upwards from the south of europe over the last 2/3 years.

I know off a couple of friends up in Berlin took up some form off backpack vacum to suck them out of the oaks trees. Who you gonna call tree busters! must of looked quite comical.

I use this cream which contains miconazole nitrate in it that pretty much dries the pimpley spots from the hairs, it is a cream called Daktarin which is really an dermatological creme. (that creme works wonder on your feet also, ask my dad he is a chiropodist)

Talk soon Ronald

Scott

 

[R_Schra]

Hello Scott,

I believe the present infestion of those caterpillars is below the big rivers (mid netherlands). I saw them first in 1998 i think. Near the coast were i live they are rare as we have not that many oaks.

I used those disposable overalls once, didnt like them as they rip easily. I usually had a change of regular clothes/workwear and washes all in the evening. I believe the possebility to take a shower is the best. Maybe we should use a trailor like the guys use for asbest removal.... On the last site were i pruned infested oaks we could use the shower on a farm. I did i more simple, i just got hosed by the misses with groundwater from a deep pit.

Thanks for the tip on that creame. The stuff our dokter discribed didnt work that well.

Ronald

 

[120770]

Ronald,

These white suits rip like a paper bag I just grin and bare it, they have to get through my Scottish thick skin first, before they become moths out of my wallet...

Scotty