How to deal with Processionary pine caterpillar - Tree pest and disease

We had them in France & the French cut the cocoons from the trees whilst wearing thick protective gloves, to avoid contact with the stinging hairs, & burn them. This is before they process, when you see movement in the cocoons.  Hope this is helpful.

Many thanks Lily,

This is helpful but we have little access to the sack pods to deal with, just hope they are not going to be a nuisance - only one pine tree!

We have no pines but the neighbours trees are full of sacks, so far I have had two trails of them to deal with and the odd one or two solitary ones.

Honestly the best way is prevention but clearly the neighbour is not too concerned, shame as we have kids and are getting a puppy very shortly.

I have found that pouring boiling water on them is the best way and then scoop them up to dispose of them, at least that way it keeps all the hairs wet so they don't go everywhere.

Thanks for the advice starfox, good to know we were doing the sensible thing with the boiling water. 

I guess your neighbour will have his hands full, from what you say, in dealing with the blighters in his garden but perhaps you can get the local council to help in yours with having the children and an imminent pet.  Good luck - you can never be too careful.

Hi, yes, I deal with mine, I have many pine trees and a lot of animals, please get professional help, they are very toxic, please do not tackle this without getting the facts not hearsay

Regards

Mark

Thanks Mark, who are the professionals - I can't seem to track anyone down to ask?

Hence asking in this forum...

Hi,

We had them in Malaga and cut them out of the tree when still in the sac. My husband used protective gloves.  He cut the branch and then chopped it to a small enough length to bag.  He then burnt them. 

This may not help you if the nest is so far up the tree and they have already started to migrate.  I have heard that if you take away the lead caterpillar they disperse and will die on their own because they get disorientated and lost.

Do not stamp on them as the substance they carry stays on your shoe and you can walk it into your house where dogs could pick it up on their paws.

Hope this helps.

Naggi Aggi

Hi NA, yes this is very helpful. 

The lead caterpillar and stamping on them are little gems !!

Thanks very much.

Thanks for the advice. It would be better if once we consult an experts like elk grove pest control, so that they would also tell us the precautions and preventive measures. Pests can be very annoying on the not so serious side, but on a more serious side, the pests can be damaging to your property and valuables and they can also lead to infections and diseases when they contaminate your environment and possibly the food that they eat.