Oak Processionary Moth

The oak processionary caterpillar

The dark caterpillars have long, greyish-white hairs on reddish-orange warts. These caterpillars molt several times and during the third molt the caterpillar gets stinging hairs. One processionary caterpillar has 700,000 stinging hairs. These hairs are so small that you cannot see them, but they can still cause unpleasant complaints. For example, the hairs can cause itching, bumps, red skin and swollen eyes. More information about the complaints and what you can do about them can be found at Oak Processionary Caterpillars - GGD Environment .

What does the municipality do?

The oak processionary caterpillar has natural enemies, such as birds and insects. We ensure that the conditions for these natural enemies are as good as possible. Various birds, especially tits, eat the oak processionary caterpillars. That is why many birdhouses have been hung in recent years.

The municipality has also created flowery verges to attract insects and birds that help combat the oak processionary caterpillars. We also take the mowing of the grass into account. By mowing in a different way, we ensure that as many blooming flowers as possible remain in order to attract insects and therefore birds.

In addition, we check the oak trees in Zoetermeer for processionary caterpillars. Risky places, such as the Zoetermeerseplas and primary schools are checked first. As soon as a nest of the oak processionary caterpillar is found, a company removes the nest with a caterpillar vacuum cleaner.

What can you do?

If you see oak processionary caterpillars in a public area, such as on the street, in a park or on a playground, we ask you to report this to us via the contact form .

Do you have oak processionary caterpillars on your own property? Then you are responsible for combating the caterpillar yourself. It is important that you hire a professional company for this and do not combat the caterpillars yourself.

On this map see where the oak processionary caterpillar has been seen.