Currently, the outbreak of the pine caterpillar has re-emerged with a dense population affecting over 1,010 hectares of pine forest in Ben Hai Forestry Enterprise, Quang Tri Province.
The forest covers a total area of 6,500 hectares, located adjacent to Vinh Khe mountainous commune (under Vinh Linh district), which includes 3,000 hectares of resin pine, with 1,010 hectares currently infested by caterpillars. According to technical staff from the forestry enterprise, favorable climatic conditions in recent times have facilitated the caterpillars’ development, with high temperatures and humidity during the rainy season leading to a shortened life cycle and faster growth rates. The average density of caterpillars and their cocoons is between 150-200 per tree across the infested area of 1,010 hectares.
In sub-zones 547, 548, 549, and 544, the pest infestation is even more severe, with certain sections of forest in zones 548, 549, and 544 experiencing complete leaf loss, leaving only branches. The density of caterpillars has reached between 500-700 per tree, with a total area of 358 hectares of pine forest heavily affected.
Ben Hai Forestry Enterprise has mobilized forces to use light traps to catch moths; temporarily halting routine work for staff to focus on the caterpillar eradication campaign; assigning targets for the infested pine forest areas to different units to actively combat the pests. The enterprise has also prepared chemicals and high-capacity spraying equipment to apply pesticides extensively and reach the tops of the trees. Additional spraying machines are being contracted to conduct simultaneous spraying, initially focusing on the most severely affected forest plots to protect the trees and effectively eliminate the caterpillars across the entire forest area.
Thanh Vinh – MonreNet
