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Emergency measures to stop imports of a moth that
affects oak trees and can cause severe allergic reactions in humans
will be imposed at the end of this month, the Forestry Commission has
said.
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Moth that can kill spreads in UK
Thousands of oaks dying from disease
Oak
trees imported from any of the EU member states will have to have a
"passport" confirming that they have been grown in an area that is free
of infestation from the oak processionary moth.
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| Oak processionary moth larvae (top) and a fully grown moth |
The
decision has been taken by Ministers from England, Scotland and Wales
following the destruction last year of 700 nests in the London boroughs
of Richmond and Ealing. The infestation was discovered the previous
autumn.
Surveyors from the Forestry Commission and the two
boroughs are stepping up action again this spring as larvae
(caterpillars) hatch from any of the moths' eggs that survived the
winter.
From April surveyors will also be looking for
caterpillars hatching from the eggs, and the owners of trees with
emerging caterpillars will be required to have them treated with the
appropriate insecticide.
Any further nests that
are found will also require to be destroyed, preferably in June, when
the larvae congregate in them to pupate before emerging as adult moths
in July.
Roddie Burgess, head of plant health for
the Forestry Commission, said the destruction of nests last year had
greatly reduced the infestation and it was hoped it would now be
possible to eradicate the pest.
He added: "The
spring, when the caterpillars are emerging from the eggs, is our next
opportunity to take action. Later in the treatment season we will be
asking the public to help us by notifying us of any nests or oak
processionary caterpillars they see so that we can deal with them."
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He said that imports of oaks from the Netherlands,
France and Italy, would be particularly affected by the emergency
measures, which take the form of an amendment to the Plant Health
(Forestry) Order 2005. Orders for oak trees placed with suppliers based
with suppliers outside the EU will not be affected, because the moth
has not been found outside the EU, he added.
The
Forestry Commission has asked the European Commission to draft measures
to protect against further introductions, and this is likely to result
in the designation of Great Britain, at least, as a "protected zone".
However,
because it is likely to be some time before the new EU measures can be
adopted, forestry ministers agreed to put the amendment to the plant
health order in place as quickly as possible to prevent further
infested oak trees entering Great Britain in the meantime.
The
caterpillars are a forestry pest because they feed on oak leaves,
seriously defoliating the trees. They are also a health problem because
their tiny hairs, which can become detached and get blown about by the
wind, are barbed and contain a toxin.
This toxin
can cause severe irritations to the skin, nose, throat, ears and eyes
of people and animals who come into contact with the hairs. In severe
cases they can cause anaphylactic shock.
Advice is
to be given to GPs and other health professionals in West London
recommending treatments for patients who might have been in contact
with the caterpillars' hairs.
Anyone who believes they have found one of the nests in an oak tree should contact one of the following:
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To report sightings in Ealing Borough, call 020 8825 5000 or e-mail
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;
To report sightings in Richmond Upon Thames Borough, call 0845 6122660 or e-mail
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;
Sightings can also be reported to the Forestry Commission's Forest Research agency, telephone 01420 22255 or e-mail
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Further information about the speciesis available on Forest Research's website, www.forestresearch.gov.uk/oakprocessionarymoth and at www.forestry.gov.uk/planthealth.
Further health information is available from NHS Direct, 0845 4647, www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
Charles Clover
Telegraph
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