The Municipality of Velletri published a Public notice with the aim of addressing the problem of Pine processionary (Traumatocampa pityocampa), an insect whose larvae can cause serious health problems to both humans and animals. The notice, issued by the Manager Paolo Candidi, draws attention to important measures to be taken to fight against this infestation in the municipal area.
The Pine Processionary Moth is a highly harmful parasite which infests pines and other conifers, causing not only damage to trees but also serious allergic and inflammatory reactions in humans and animals. To this end, the notice is based on European directives, ministerial decrees and municipal ordinances which oblige owners and holders of private land and condominiums to take prevention and remediation measures.
The operations to be performed are the following:
Winter/early spring: cutting the infested branch and burning the nests with larvae equipped with stinging hairs.
Summer: removal and burning of old empty nests.
Fall: removal of prenidia and treatments with bioinsecticides or growth regulators, after appropriate monitoring.
The Municipality recommends the use of overalls, masks and protective glasses during these operations and invites the use of specialized companies to guarantee safety. It is forbidden to place processionary moth nests or infested branches in urban waste collection containers.
The costs for the interventions are borne by the owners of the land where the infested plants are present. Non-compliance entails administrative fines ranging from 500 to 3,000 euros, with the possibility of further complaints pursuant to articles 500 and 650 of the Penal Code.
The Municipality warns all owners, condominium administrators and users in any capacity to comply with the provisions of this notice, warning that, in case of non-compliance, legal measures will be taken.
The Public Notice provision effectively replaces theOrdinance issued in recent years. Control over compliance with the rules is entrusted to the Local Police Command, the Public Health Office of the ASL RM6 and all the competent Judicial Police authorities.
This notice, part of a broader strategy to protect public health and the environment, invites the community of Velletri to take joint and responsible action to combat the pine processionary moth.
