Protecta Extension for Pine Processionary Caterpillar Trap - 65cm

This 65cm extension for Procerex collar allows the Protecta pine processionary caterpillar trap to be adapted to trees with a trunk measuring up to 55cm in diameter (175cm in circumference). This device enables the trapping and destruction of caterpillars as they descend in single file along the trunk, in an effective and natural way, without the use of pesticides.

The extension kit consists of:

• 1 deflector of 72cm (transparent ribbon)
• 1 strap
• 1 strip of double foam of 65cm.

For step-by-step assembly of the complete trap, you can watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbfmG6ilsEU&t=5s or refer to the user manual.

Install according to the climatic zone (from January to March). The collar can be removed from the end of April.

Use: 1 trap per trunk (with extension if necessary). See manual for collar installation.
Installing the kit does not require special preparation, except for trunks with deep crevices that the interior foam cannot fill.

PRECAUTIONS FOR USE:

When dismantling, wear gloves and a mask to avoid any irritation caused by bristles that may still be present around the trunk. Caution: stinging hairs are also present in the final nests and they can retain their urticating power for several years if kept dry.

The life cycle of the pine processionary caterpillar:

The pine processionary caterpillar is dangerous to humans and pets. It is the larva of a moth whose Latin name is Thaumetopoea pityocampa, which feeds exclusively on pine needles, causing significant tree weakening. It is brown with orange patches and covered in hairs that secrete a fine, highly urticating dust to deter potential predators. Its adult form hatches during the summer, between June and September, depending on the climate. This moth is grey in colour, with black patterns and whitish spots. Once fertilised, the female searches for a pine or cedar tree to lay her eggs. The most affected species are Austrian black pine, Corsican laricio, Salzman pine, Monterey pine, maritime pine, Scots pine and Aleppo pine. The eggs are laid in parallel rows, forming a silvery-grey sheath covered in scales, visible on the twigs or pine needles. Hatching occurs 5 to 6 weeks after laying, releasing caterpillars that moult three times before winter. The young caterpillars weave temporary nests where they spend the day. The larvae begin to eat the pine needles, initially quite discreetly, manifesting as yellowing of a few tufts of needles here and there. The caterpillars then migrate in stages towards the top of the vegetation, always in search of food, rebuilding a new nest each time. These migrations are easily observable in fine weather, in the form of long processions that can gather several hundred individuals. At this stage, the young caterpillars are not yet urticating. At the fourth larval stage, they build a final, large nest, invariably facing south to store heat, where they will spend the winter. At this stage, the processions are nocturnal. In spring, the caterpillars leave the tree in procession to bury themselves in the soil in a sunny spot; they can travel up to 40 m to find the ideal spot where they will pupate before transforming into a moth when temperatures are sufficiently high. And the cycle begins again. Note that any plant growing near infested trees is likely to harbour pupae in its roots and contribute to their dispersal, once it is transplanted or even moved during weeding.

To strengthen the fight against the pine processionary caterpillar, you can also apply a treatment with an organic insecticide based on Bacillus thuringiensis (BT kurtstaki, serotype 3a3b), or install pheromone traps that will neutralise male moths. Also consider encouraging the establishment of predators. The cuckoo is the only bird that attacks the caterpillars, sometimes even fetching them from their nest. The tit, on the other hand, hunts the first larval form. The greatest predator of the processionary caterpillar is the larva of a beetle called the great ground beetle. The adult, which lives on the ground, has wings with metallic green highlights. It is sometimes seen climbing up tree trunks to seek its prey.