Re: Processionary caterpillars

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I'm new to this incredibly helpful list too. I live below the village of Gorbio, which is above the town of Menton in the south east of France, adjacent to the Italian border where I'm attempting to create a garden on a hillside.  First, rebuilding the drystone walls which had been tumbled by the sangliers (wild boars) and slowly planting. Like you, Jill, I too have both the excellent books you mention.

We too have these dreaded processionary caterpillars, in fact my neighbour's cat died from eating or licking one the other day.  Whilst I haven't seen any nests in the pine trees this year, another neighbour, when he sees them,  shoots them down and immediately burns them. Mind you, he's a good shot. The caterpillars are deadly to dogs and cats if they don't receive immediate veterinary attention and I don't imagine they'd do a human much good either.

If you don't shoot yourself - and I don't - perhaps you could ask one of the locals (I've yet to meet a French country person who isn't part of 'la chasse' and perhaps he'd come and shoot them down for you.

My  understanding is there has been some aerial spraying to reduce the problem in this part of France.

Good luck - Jilly Bennett
 
 

jillrandall wrote:

I have been lurking for a few weeks now and have been very impressed by the knowledgeable posts. My husband and I recently moved permanently from England to SW France, (450 m up in the Montagne Noire near Carcassonne), and inherited a beautiful garden, I have been reading all I can find on mediterranean gardening  including Mediterranean Gardening by Heidi Gildemeister and The Mediterranean Garden by Hugo Latymer and have joined the MGS.  My problem is that I have a pine tree in excess of 60ft high which has many cobwebby nests hanging from its branches.  I have been told that they belong to processionary caterpillars.  The tree is too tall to spray and too tall  for me to prune the affected branches.  Can anyone suggest how I can rid the tree of its unwelcome visitors. Jill Randall