VENLO - The municipality of Venlo will again start preventive control of the oak processionary caterpillar from this week. We will do this on trees in the municipality where the oak processionary caterpillar causes the most nuisance. These include busy places such as schools, playgrounds, sports complexes and care centres. The trees are treated twice preventively with a biological agent. The work is being carried out by Krinkels BV.
The municipality considers it important not only to focus on (preventive) control. We also invest in increasing biodiversity through more natural roadside management and hanging nesting boxes. This way, we get more natural enemies of the oak processionary caterpillar within our municipality.
Removal of nests
During the period from mid-May to July, oak processionary caterpillars live together in groups. This is when the nuisance caused by their fire hairs is at its greatest. If there is much nuisance, the municipality has the nests sucked out by a specialised company in places frequented by many people. If you encounter oak processionary caterpillars in your own garden, do not fight the caterpillars yourself but hire an expert company to do so.
Degree of nuisance difficult to predict
The oak processionary caterpillar problem is unfortunately not going away. The nuisance is annoying for everyone and also cannot always be solved. In 2019, the nuisance caused by the oak processionary caterpillar was high. Whether we will experience much nuisance this year too is difficult to predict.
Information and notifications
On the website is more information about the oak processionary caterpillar and what you can do in case of complaints.
