FORUM

Thanks for bringing the article to the top of your list, Kate. I've highlighted the bit at the bottom re a new product available which I'll be trying out....speaking as one who was afflicted by these pests in the past. I see we have a couple of nests up there again. Wouldn't you think this wind would blast them away?

"....There is now a product available at Gamme Verte (next to the Intermarché in Céret, and Prades) to sprinkle round the bottom of the trees to get rid of these dangerous caterpillars"

According to l'Accent Catalan, just arrived, the Conseil Générale, in conjunction with the Groupment Ornithologique Roussillonais, are installing lots of tit boxes in the pine forests, firstly around Força Réal, to try to control the chenilles processionnaires.
'On estime qu'une nichée de mésanges consomme 6000 à 9000 chenilles, soit 10kg de chenilles. ... des nichoirs vont être installés en forêt et plus de 11 tonnes de chenilles seront ainsi avalées par les mésanges.'
So, Sue and Paul, maybe you should be putting up tit-boxes, nut hoppers, fat balls, etc.
Roger?

That's an incredible amount of tits or caterpillars, TPH!!! lol

Well, if you read it in print it must be true, n'est-ce pas?

... especially l'Accent Catalan!

Thanks, we'll give the tit boxes a go

Quite right!

How many mésanges does he think he's going to get in one nichée to eat nearly a million caterpillars!!!????


Well worth a try, however! And more eco friendly than chemicals.

I have a feed table (mentioned somewhere before) outside our salon across from the terrace under an umbrella pine. Bluetits et al. have been getting through about 6kg of sunflower seeds and a dozen fatballs per month plus stale bread etc..

My rememdy for chenilles is still my trusty blowtorch - frazzle 'em right down the line, front to back in 30 seconds!! Killed about 7 or 8 lines last year!!

Well we have a tit box in a pine tree where there are chenille nests. The box is used yearly as we have seen the parents feeding their brood. I should imagine a lot of resident tits will be needed to control them.

Kathy wrote:Well we have a tit box

Is it possible to buy them on their own or do you have to get the pair?





.. sorry ....

... I was wondering how long it would take for the thread to descend...

Roger O wrote: My rememdy for chenilles is still my trusty blowtorch - frazzle 'em right down the line, front to back in 30 seconds!! Killed about 7 or 8 lines last year!!

Snap! Crackle and POP !! Eh Rog ...?

We have blue tits, coal tits and Great Tits - and they usually nest in pairs.

DaveM wrote:We have blue tits, coal tits and Great Tits - and they usually nest in pairs.

Thanks for bringing it back on topic Dave ...





.. some people live in the gutter ....