- It will take place between 17th and 28th February in various locations throughout the municipality
The Calvià Town Hall's Maintenance Department, in collaboration with the Calvià Local Police, will implement a new measure this February to combat the processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) infestation. This intervention comes in response to the proliferation of nests in various wooded and urban areas of the town.
Given the technical complexity of removing processionary caterpillar nests at height, the operation will employ a hunting method to combat the infestation using sound cartridges. This is the most effective natural treatment for safely and controllably eliminating the nests.
The operation, which has been successfully carried out in other municipalities, will take place from 17th to 28th February, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in public areas of different parts of Calvià. To ensure residents' peace of mind, all actions are under the strict supervision of the Local Police, guaranteeing that the process complies with public safety protocols.
The intervention is a response to the danger that processionary caterpillars pose to public health, especially for children. Contact with the caterpillars' urticating hairs can cause allergic reactions in humans and pets.
The processionary caterpillar is a common pest in pine forests along the Mediterranean coast and in mountainous areas during the colder months. This direct intervention aims to minimise risks posed by the presence of nests in tree branches.
This campaign complements the one carried out during the summer months, when the processionary caterpillar is in its moth stage. From June to October, the Town Hall installs pheromone traps in public spaces to capture the males and curb reproduction, a key preventative measure to reduce the appearance of caterpillars in winter. Furthermore, to ensure a coordinated strategy, the consistory is making these traps available to residents at a subsidised rate through the Environmental Service, thus enabling them to combat the pest in both municipal areas and private gardens.
For more details, please consult the municipal website and social media.