Antwerp and Limburg let beetles fly over from Turkey to tackle oak processionary caterpillars
The provinces of Antwerp and Limburg have had a hundred beetles fly over from Turkey to use them here in the fight against the oak processionary caterpillar. These are specimens of the large doll robber, a species that is actually native to our regions but has disappeared in the wild, partly due to the use of pesticides.
Source† BELGA
The great pupa robber is a natural enemy of the oak processionary caterpillar and its disappearance is probably due to the caterpillar’s spreading taking action. The stinging hairs of the oak processionary caterpillar are for human health On where many things can be done.
Previously, projects were also set up with great tits and parasitic flies, two other natural enemies of the oak processionary caterpillar. So now comes the great doll robber. The beetles eat pine processionary caterpillars in Turkey, but here they are switched to a diet of oak processionary caterpillars in laboratories. They also have to adjust their biorhythms, so that they stay above ground for longer during their summer sleep. Once this has been achieved, the beetles are released at the end of May to a few locations near the nests of the oak processionary caterpillar.
“It seems impossible to us that the beetle will pose a danger to other animal species,” said Ann Milbau, of the pilot project. “They are trained hunters that target specific caterpillars and if they are released close to the processionary caterpillar’s nests, they don’t go any further in search of other prey.” Milbau also includes the introduction of a native species and not of a captured exotic.