Invasive moth spotted for the first time in a park in Ireland

The Department of Agriculture has issued an alert to the public to be on the lookout for the oak processionary moth tree pest.

The first caterpillar nest in Ireland was identified in June after a member of the public spotted it in an oak tree in a small park in South Dublin.

The department said that after the single nest was identified through contact with its Horticulture and Plant Health Division, “swift action was taken to eradicate the pest traced to a recent import of oak trees from Belgium, including the removal and destruction of the unique nest found in lone tree, as well as all associated trees linked to imported shipment. “

A larger intensified survey has not yielded any additional findings of the pest in Ireland. Informational signs have been posted in the park to alert the public and a commercial advisory has been issued to the horticultural industry.

The pest is established in central and southern Europe and surrounding areas, and this moth’s range has expanded northward possibly in response to climate change, according to the Department of Agriculture.

It is firmly established in northern France and the Netherlands, and has been reported in southern Sweden.

Since 2006, larval colonies have been found in parts of the UK. This is the first find in Ireland.

Ireland has been designated a Protected Area since 2014, which means it is free from the pest. Northern Ireland and most of Great Britain also have Protected Area status.

Measures such as the prohibition or restriction of the movement of products and annual surveys are taken to avoid the introduction of these pests in the protected areas and ensure their eradication if they are present in these areas.

Oak trees and plants are hosts for this pest and it is unlikely to be found on any tree other than oak.

The caterpillars have black heads and bodies covered in long white hairs, and they have a distinctive habit of moving in processions from nose to tail, hence their name.

When the caterpillars hatch into moths, they then fly to other host oaks and lay their eggs for the next year.

The Department of Agriculture said they should not be touched under any circumstances and suspicious sightings should be reported immediately by emailing [email protected].