
Actually they look quite cute, the small, fluffy caterpillars of the oak processionary moth – but their hairs can cause severe rashes with itching in humans when they come into contact with the skin. Therefore, the nests of the animals are removed for years, among other things with the poison diflubenzuron. This biocide is also said to be harmful to humans, according to the german nature and biodiversity conservation union (BN).
For the past two years, the organization has also been campaigning in the hochstadt area to dispense with the coarse spraying of the poison "with success", according to richard mergner, state representative of the BN, at a press conference on tuesday.
A safe picnic
For the presentation of the results of this commitment, the BN had come up with something special: at a highway parking lot on the A 3, they met for a picnic under oaks that had been sprayed with diflubenzuron for years. "Now, however, you can take a rest here again without danger", says tom konopka, regional officer of the BN.