The thaumetopoea pityocampa or procesionaria of the pine,in its phase caterpillar it is covered with hairs, give off that them floating in the air, when they meet threatened. This hair, possesses an effect hives and allergic that can provoke irritation in hearing, eyes, nose, throat and skin. There are persons that can affect them seriously, as also usually it mainly affects children, animal of company, as dogs and cats, or also to the cattle.

On half of February until the end of March the caterpillars begin to leave the nest

      Recently there has been created a device that is in use for eliminating the needles of the procesionaria of the pine, this one composed by a metallic cylinder that contains claws shaped curled U, and this one in turn goes subject to metallic barra of 1,5 meters of length. This pole may be necessary to join up to the pine processionary nest, thanks to the fact that it contains pins of subjection and union of a pole with another one. An operative maximum, can reach until 10 to 12 meters. Thus one is able to arrive at any height from the ground, without needing using stairs or cranes to rise.

      This tool named POP captures the nest, doing to turn in the form of rotation, the tool on the bag of the procesionaria of the pine. The device brings over to the nest, placed in the pine until it touches it, realize the rotation on his axis in the sense of the curvature of the claws, as the needle of the clock, with the help of the pole and it will achieve that the device gets entangled with the bag-nest. If it is necessary, so that nest this very taken hold or so that we were not able to loosen it, move up or below the pole to catch the totality of the nest and the caterpillars of inside.

        When the whole bag-nest has been captured of processionary of the pine, place it in a container to eliminate it. I could eliminate it with the hand, providing that it takes protection gloves or with a spade for garden,this will prevent that it touches the caterpillars. To eliminate the nests most advisable it to put oneself metal deposits,In order to eliminate the nests most advisable it is deposits than them in a metallic can to realize a controlled burning or by means of places adapted for these ends. It is advisable to clean well the used tool and before to take off the equipment of individual protection, with a brush or a similar utensil to eliminate the possible remains of needles or hair that could produce the hives rash.

       It is important to put special attention with the controlled burning, realizing it in spaces adapted for the same one, with the necessary permissions and with the fulfillment of the in force legislation. To avoid any unnecessary risk.

       To realize the elimination of this plague of insects is advisable the utilization of equipment of Individual Protection to avoid the effects rash hives to the persons who manipulate the tool in the eviction and burning of the nests of procesionaria of the pine. The safety equipment this one composed for:
 

      -    Coverall of work, to protect body, arms and legs.

      -     Rubbers boots or closed shoe, to protect the legs and feet.

      -    Gloves of hard or similar plastic, as those of bee-keeper, who could adjust in the part of the wrist, to protect the hands and to realize the cleanliness of the POP tool.

      -    Closed hood of plastic or similar, that adjusts in the neck, this way will protect the head, face and neck.

      -    Mask anti-powder for the protection of the respiratory tract.  Verify that it is adjustable.

      -    Safety glasses, demister and with reinforcement in the facial contour, for the protection of the eyes and his contour. Verify also that are adjustable.

To avoid possible allergy or nettle rash is recommended to use this safety equipment or similar.

      When there is realized the extermination of the caterpillar of the procesionaria it is necessary for the protection of the persons or animals, to be kept removed from the zone to treating, if does not take the necessary equipment of safety. Also to avoid to work with wind, since it can provoke the dispersion of the hair of the processionary towards the surroundings.

       Likewise one recommends to give special attention to the existence of electrical cables near the affected trees, since the tool and the pole are drivers of the electricity. And not to use the device in presence of storms or rays. It is necessary to have special attention to the claws of the tool, since they are noticeably sharps and they can you cut in his handling