The first oak processionary caterpillars crawled from their eggs one week earlier than usual on April 1 as temperatures rose, the Knowledge Center for Oak Processionary Caterpillars reports. The hairs the caterpillars later grow cause health problems among Netherlands residents every year. Some municipalities are using birdhouses to attract birds like the tit to get rid of the caterpillars before …
Municipalities in the Netherlands are increasingly turning to natural methods in the fight against the oak processionary caterpillar. Municipalities are looking into promoting natural predators, bacteria based pesticides, and transforming their tree stock so they have less oak trees, NOS reports after surveying the Dutch municipalities. In the coming year, more municipalities plan to fight the caterpillars by helping their …
The hot and dry weather in the Netherlands last week were the ideal conditions for oak processionary butterflies to start crawling out of their pupa. The butterflies are expected to lay many eggs on oak trees across the country, which may result in more problems with the poisonous caterpillars again next year, AD reports. The female lays her eggs in …
