Suspicious insects among the vegetation in Pantelleria: it is not processionary, the Park Authority recommends simple precautions
The Pantelleria Island National Park Authority quickly started monitoring following reports of suspicious insects among the vegetation.
It is officially ruled out that it is a processionary; the caterpillar in question refers to a moth known as Orgyia trigotephras, already present in the past year, particularly in the Gibele area. It is a polyphagous species that feeds on numerous plant species, including oak or holm oak, strawberry tree, mastic tree, etc. Differently from 2023 and in response to a further population boom, Orgyia has also moved towards cultivated fields, feeding on anything it finds along its path. The reasons for this explosion can be traced back to multiple factors including the lack of predators and the humid climate that is characterizing the month of June both in the past year and in this one.
The situation is strictly monitored by the Park Authority in collaboration with Prof. Gabriella Lo Verde (Univ. Palermo – Dep. SAAF), the Park’s contact person for studies on the distribution of pollinating insects. In this regard, biological control interventions will be carried out with the use of a product based on Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (the strain active against lepidopterans), to be applied by spraying exclusively the plants with the presence of caterpillars and those nearby, so as to minimize the impact on the lepidopteran fauna of the areas involved in the phenomenon.
The areas of shrubby and tree vegetation on Pantelleria can be frequented by adopting some simple precautions, in order to avoid contact with the stinging bristles that characterize the caterpillars of these species. During the period of presence of the caterpillars, the staff assigned to the care of the woods must wear long trousers and t-shirts that cover the arms in order to avoid contact with the skin. Hikers must follow the same instructions, avoiding bringing children and pets with them into areas where the presence of moths has been reported. Furthermore, entry into densely wooded and bushy areas where there is no path for normal use of the forest must be avoided.
