Caterpillar infestation in acacia forests has broken out in Tan Ky.

Since April 7th, residents of Nguyen Trai hamlet, Nghia Hanh commune, have discovered a large number of brown caterpillars appearing densely in areas planted with acacia trees. These caterpillars primarily attack acacia trees aged 5 months to 3 years, causing significant damage to the foliage in large areas of the forest. Due to the rapid and serious nature of the situation, local authorities have promptly taken action.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghia Hanh commune, initial statistics show that about 150 hectares out of a total of 1,100 hectares of acacia forest in the commune have been attacked by pests, with 60 hectares severely damaged, with pest densities reaching over 500 insects per tree. "Acacia is the main crop; if pests and diseases are not controlled in time, people will suffer heavy losses," Mr. Tuan worried.

Due to the tall canopy of acacia trees and the scattered planting areas, people cannot use manual methods to spray pesticides. Given this situation, Nghia Hanh commune requested the district to provide mechanized solutions. On April 10th, the Tan Ky District Agricultural Services Center deployed drones to spray pesticides on 60 hectares of severely damaged forest. However, approximately 90 hectares of forest in Nguyen Trai and Doi Cung hamlets remain untreated.

Mr. Vo Van Cuong, head of Doi Cung hamlet, shared that brown caterpillars began appearing in the hamlet on April 17th, affecting 11 hectares of acacia trees belonging to 7 households. Through observation, he noticed that areas with teak trees had a higher caterpillar density. “Many large teak trees in the area have had their leaves completely eaten. Afterward, the caterpillars spread to the surrounding acacia forests. Therefore, teak trees could be a breeding ground for brown caterpillars,” Mr. Cuong said.

In fact, most of the teak trees in Nghia Hanh commune have had their leaves completely eaten by caterpillars. Experts believe that brown caterpillars are parasitic on teak trees. When they no longer have teak leaves to eat, they move on to acacia trees – a species that is densely planted, has young leaves, and is therefore easily attacked.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Trinh, Deputy Director of the Tan Ky District Agricultural Services Center, now is a favorable time to treat larvae in the 1st to 3rd instar stages. Spraying pesticides at the right time helps effectively control the life cycle of the larvae and limit their spread. Initial results from spraying with drones show a larval eradication rate of over 90%.

"We recommend that people use biological pesticides that are safe for the environment and livestock. At the same time, combine this with forest sanitation, clearing bushes, and removing dry undergrowth around tree bases to limit the hiding places of pests," Mr. Trinh emphasized.

However, one issue raised by residents is that spraying must be done simultaneously to be effective. If only a few households spray while others do not cooperate, the pests will continue to spread. Therefore, residents have petitioned the authorities to organize concentrated, synchronized spraying using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to ensure effective pest control on a large scale.

Tan Ky district has a large area of ​​acacia plantations. Acacia trees not only provide a stable income for the people but also play an important role in greening barren land and hills. Therefore, timely detection, treatment, and prevention of acacia pests and diseases are top priorities for the agricultural sector and all levels of government.

To avoid the risk of a widespread brown caterpillar outbreak, authorities recommend that localities and forest owners proactively monitor, detect early, and implement containment and control measures in areas with high caterpillar densities. Combining technological applications with coordinated efforts among households will be key to effectively controlling the pest.