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CURIOSITIES OF PROCESSIONARY OF THE PINE. The
pine processionary is an insect that preferredly lives in nests
constructed in the trees the pines, cedars and fir. In spring, the
processionary low by the interior of the trees and in row, in search of an
suitable place to be buried and to arrive the metamorphosis to become
chrysalis
The caterpillars form big rows, one behind other one like in a procession, of there her name.
The pine processionary is born of the butterfly Thaumetopoea pityocampa. This butterfly with appearance of moth, possesses a plump body and a rudimentary horn that does not serve to feed. The processionary does not eat and his only activity during the 2 ó 3 days that has of life consists of attracting the manly by means of a few substances that it segregates.
The life of the butterfly of the processionary is very short and uses it to be fertilized. It has the proassignee hairs in harpoon form that when nailing and breaking themselves in the skin inoculate liberating substances of histamina. This produces cutaneous injuries with many irritations, ocular and occasionally bronchial problems, also a picture of anaphylactic shock. In some cases one has demonstrated that it produces rinitis and asthma. This is reason by that it is not good for touching the sites where they can have past, nor for being in contact with the enemy with these insects. Also they suppose a danger for some domestic animals, coverall the dogs, that approach the rows and can involuntarily absorb, swallow or inhale the hairs of carterpillars.
The contact with the hairs that detach oneself the caterpillars of the processionary produces a painful rash. Numerous methods of control exist, applying them of suitable form the populations can reduce of processionary. It is important bear in mind that certain environmental favorable conditions for the development of the plague cannot be modified, this will do that the plague of procesionaria of the pine returns to reproduce, also it is suitable that the election of the method, for the elimination will have to be realized so that you cause the minor possible impact on the environment. The changes in the climatic have caused that the temperatures in the winter more are elevated, this causes that they change the habits of the caterpillar and instead of waiting for the arrival of the spring, begins to march past already towards the ground in winter. Once it descends to the ground completes his cycle and one becomes butterfly, but the most serious damage is the defoliation that produces in the pines, are the loss of top of the trees by the voracity of these insects, that end up debilitating to the tree and it even can kill a smaller.
The chrysalis of the pine processionary is kept buried in the soil. If you want to know others our articles on the traps of pine processionary , moths and butterflies and curiosities on these insects, click below.
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