Controlling the pine processionary beetle (Thaumetopea pityocampa) hinges on understanding its life cycle. Lokímica oversees pest management for numerous public facilities and traditionally arrives in spring after completing its preventive work. This approach places emphasis on interventions during the autumn months, particularly September and October. Consequently, spring becomes the moment for corrective actions limited to locations where caterpillars have managed to advance, while ongoing maintenance and inspections occur throughout the year, since every stage of the insect’s life cycle warrants a tailored treatment.
When the processionary larva reaches a developmental phase, preventive measures take center stage. Lokímica adopts endotherapy, a method that introduces a biological product directly into the pine trunk to halt caterpillar development and reduce future damage.
Lokímica’s technical team also deploys pheromone traps in trees to intercept the procession. This technique is highly effective: traps contain a synthetic pheromone lure designed to attract males, guiding them into collection bags where they are trapped and cannot escape. By lowering encounters between males and females, the number of fertilized females drops significantly. To maintain low pest levels, uninterrupted mass trapping every year is essential, ensuring a sustained suppression of the population.
The synergy between these two preventive strategies plays a crucial role in minimizing the pest. Yet, if the population manages to persist or evolve, Lokímica has additional tools to disrupt reproduction.
First, physical barriers are placed on tree trunks. Catch rings are mounted to capture caterpillars as they descend the pines, where they are collected in high-capacity bags that trap them in a single-file descent to ground level. If these bags are positioned accessibly, they can be removed locally and efficiently. Technical staff also perform manual pruning with poles and, when needed, apply preventive spraying to reach hard-to-access points. These measures collectively tackle challenging locations and enhance overall control.
These year-round strategies enable Lokímica to keep the pine processionary at bay, safeguarding the environment and public health for communities served.