The oak processionary spinner caused a great stir in NRW last year. Cities are now preparing for another plague in 2020.
- The oak processionary moth is spreading in NRW .
- Direct contact with the caterpillar can be extremely dangerous for people.
- Many cities are now reacting to the new plague and sometimes presenting different measures.
NRW - The oak procession spinner is back. The poisonous caterpillars have hatched in many places and make themselves comfortable in our parks . But this year the cities of North Rhine-Westphalia seem to be better prepared for the fight against insects , as RUHR24.de * reports.
Oak procession spinner in NRW: Gloomy forecasts are confirmed
Some experts had already made gloomy forecasts for 2020, but now they seem to be happening. The oak processionary spinner is back and even earlier this year than in the past.
NABU - insect scientist Karl-Heinz Jelinek (68) told Bild.de: "The mild winter certainly didn't harm them. It is important how the weather will develop in the coming weeks." The spinners like it dry and warm. Only constant rain could stop them.
NRW: Cities declare oak procession moths to fight
But in NRW you don't want to leave anything to chance . The oak processionary spinner is dangerous. The caterpillar's stinging hair in particular can trigger violent allergic reactions in humans. With small barbs , the hair easily attaches itself to clothing, shoes, but also the skin. The contact causes nodules or minor inflammation on the skin and an itching sensation .
Therefore, the cities have reacted. Many of them sat on a water - gel - mixed with 500 million tiny nematode worms that penetrate into the stick and kill them after a few days. In the Ruhr area , this mixture is produced by specialist companies and ultimately sprayed onto the oaks concerned.
Numerous oak trees are currently being sprayed to curb the spread of the oak processionary moth.
© Lisa Ducret / dpa
Oak procession moth: biocides should stop caterpillars early
However, this method causes criticism from many environmentalists because caterpillars of endangered butterflies also die. In the eastern Ruhr area will therefore relies on a different method.
Roads . There, NRW sprays trees with biocides , which are supposed to kill the caterpillars before they develop their dangerous stinging hair .
Oak procession spinner: Dortmund installs 210 nesting boxes
In addition, several state enterprises have tits - nesting boxes to the suspended track - population to keep small. A total of 210 nesting boxes hang in the zoo and in the Hoeschpark in Dortmund . Live traps are also used.
In order to warn the citizens of Dortmund , the city has also put up temporary information and warning signs at parks, green areas, cemeteries and forests. Circles such as Wesel and Kleve, however, spray more than 3000 oak trees with helicopters with bacteria .
NRW: Fight against oak procession moths is expensive
The means in the fight against the oak processionary moth are extremely diverse this year. It seems clear that nobody underestimates the danger of the caterpillar . A plague like last year should be avoided. However, it is estimated that cities will have to maintain their measures until August . However, these measures come at a price .
As Bild.de reports, roads invest . NRW in the early measures in the Ruhr area about 115,000 euros. Gelsenkirchen paid around 190,000 euros in 2019, Duisburg 151,000 euros, Dortmund 160,000 euros. The cities expected in 2020 with similar costs, some ask for the fight against the oak processionary even more money ready.
kema
* RUHR24.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.