Nearly 1,000 hectares of pine forest in Yen Thanh are infected with caterpillars.

(Baonghean) -In recent times, especially since the beginning of May, in Yen Thanh district, pine caterpillars have developed and spread at an extremely fast rate. Most of the pine forest area is infected with the first generation of pine caterpillars in 2011.

The density of pests and the area infected with pests are increasing rapidly. Many forest plots of Yen Thanh Forestry Company, Vinh Thanh and Son Thanh communes... have a density of pests from 100-300 insects/tree. Combined with the hot weather, pests grow and develop strongly.

According to statistics, the area of ​​pine forests in Yen Thanh district infected with worms has reached nearly 1,000 hectares, in 12 communes. The district has directed the People's Committees of communes and forest owners to proactively and urgently mobilize all resources to organize prevention by many methods, mobilize forces to capture and harvest larvae, pupae, eggs, and use more than 840 kg of biological products such as VBT, Bitadin to spray, except when the worms are still young. Units such as the Forestry Company, Son Thanh, Vinh Thanh, Vien Thanh, Cong Thanh communes, have proactively invested in equipment and drugs to prevent worms, thereby initially preventing the first generation of worms in 2011 and weakening the second generation of worms in 2011, preventing the outbreak of diseases causing leaf defoliation.

Currently, the density of pests has begun to decrease, but due to the lack of pesticides, manual extermination methods and limited capital for investment in prevention, the second generation of pests has entered its cocoon, and in some places, the first and second instar pests have appeared. It is estimated that the second generation of pests/2011 will develop rapidly at the end of June, with the risk that the density of pests will continue to increase and cause an epidemic.

Yen Thanh District People's Committee has directed communes and forest owners to continue monitoring the development of pests, proactively mobilizing all resources to organize timely prevention and control, when the level and scale of damage is not large, the age of the worms is still small to protect the canopy of the pine forest, stabilize the resin exploitation site, prevent the worms from developing and spreading into a wider epidemic. In particular, focusing on implementing comprehensive prevention methods, prioritizing prevention by biological, manual and mechanical physical methods.

The district also directed localities to assign cadres to closely follow the scene to urge and guide hamlets and forest owners to effectively prevent and control pests, considering the work of preventing and controlling pine caterpillars as urgent as forest fire prevention and fighting. Pay attention to checking the process of resin exploitation, and when necessary, immediately suspend pine forests with moderate to severe infestation.

Phu Huong