Lack of insecticide aerial spray causes growing threat!

It has been reported that pine processionary caterpillars are posing danger to North Cyprus forests. According to a report, individuals are sharing pictures on social media of the caterpillars surrounding pine trees in different regions, revealing that the threat is growing by the day. The lack of insecticide aerial spray this year has caused criticism against the struggle towards pine processionary caterpillar. Some municipalities have announced that they are stepping up efforts against the caterpillars which are threatening the trees.

OUR NATURE IS MUTUAL, THE BATTLE MUST BE MUTUAL TOO

The duties of the Bi-Communal Technical Committees include protecting nature and wildlife. In context, under the leadership of the Technical Committee for a common island-wide struggle against caterpillars posing danger, the actual question on the agenda is; what are we waiting for to overcome this situation?

SOUTH CYPRUS COMPLETED ITS AERIAL INSECTICIDE APPLICATION AGAINST THE MOTHS IN JANUARY

South Cyprus announced that aerial spraying was carried out against caterpillars between the dates of December 2022 - January 2023 and that the encounter against the insects was completed.

İYİGÜN “AERIAL INSECTICIDE APPLICATIONS MUST BE DONE”

Chairman of the Chamber of Forestry Engineers, Ahmet İyigün, said that there is an outbreak of caterpillars this year; however, it is possible to overcome the battle against them with aerial application.

İyigün stated that in the protocol signed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Near East University, aerial biological spraying was not foreseen in the fight against the caterpillars, and noted that this year the damage caused by the caterpillars is predicted to be severe . İyigün recommended that aerial spraying should be sternly carried out. Referring to the protocol, İyigün said that insect observation, insect trap, seasonal breeding of insects (Calosoma), reproduction of nests, egg mass and pouch collection methods will be carried out and that trees showing growth failure will eventually dry out due to the deadly infestation.

Stating that the biological Larvicide method by air is not an expensive method as the Director of the Forestry Department explained, İyigün said that it is the cheapest method compared to methods and that spraying one hectare of forest area against processionary caterpillars is 1/23 of the cost of afforestation per hectare.

FOREST DEPARTMENT AND NEU FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE SIGNED A PROTOCOL ON BATTLE AGAINST PINE BEETLE

On February 22, the “Pine Beetle Integrated Control Scientific Cooperation Protocol” was signed between the Forestry Department and the Near East University (NEU) Faculty of Agriculture.

It was stated that within the framework of the protocol covering 5 years, an integrated struggle with the pine processionary beetle would be carried out. Answering a question, Director of Forestry Department Salih Güneş stated that the cost of aerial combat for 7 thousand 500 or 10 thousand hectares is around 1 million Euros, and said that this is not a sustainable solution. Güneş shared his opinion that they would achieve better success with a long-term and integrated struggle.

In the protocol for the fight against the pine processionary beetle to be effective in the long term, it is aimed to implement the trap method, biological control (with bird or insect), biological insecticide, trapping, and mechanical warfare at the same time and in a coordinated manner so.

MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TAKEN ACTION

On the other hand, some municipalities announced that they have started to fight against the pine processionary beetle.

Lapta-Alsancak- Çamlıbel Municipality announced that they have taken action to protect against public and animal health.

The municipality’s post on its social media account is as follows: “We continue our struggle by controlling the pine processionary beetle, especially in school gardens and shelters, in order to protect public and animal health”.