Estepona

Estepona expands pine processionary treatments to more than 3,000

Estepona Town Council has closed the annual campaign against the pine processionary caterpillar with 240 more applications than the previous year.

Francisco CG · Published on October 29, 2026 at 21:38

Dos operarios con guantes rojos y camiseta verde colocan una cinta amarilla en el tronco de un pino junto a una calle. — Photo: Ayuntamiento de Estepona

Estepona Town Council has finished the campaign to eliminate the pine processionary caterpillar from the city's pine trees, which this year has been extended to more areas. According to the Council, more than 3,000 treatments have been applied, compared with the usual 2,800, which means 240 more applications than in previous campaigns.

Where work has been carried out

The work has focused on public parks, large pine woodland areas, the surroundings of schools and green areas. The expansion has made it possible to include the specimens in Parque de la Hermandad and the area around the Cancelada football pitch. Three applications have been administered to each specimen, although in the large pine trees up to five have been supplied.

A public health problem

The Council explains that the pine processionary is Spain's leading forest pest and opens the way to other opportunistic pests. In addition, the caterpillar and its urticating hairs are a public health problem, as they cause rashes and severe allergic reactions, and they also affect pets. In trees, the insect seriously damages the foliage and weakens them.

Endotherapy treatment

The products are applied through endotherapy, an alternative method of phytosanitary treatment of urban trees with low environmental impact. The Council notes that it is quick, simple and does not require investment in machinery, so it also saves on water and energy consumption. The best strategy against the pest is preventive treatment from the beginning of October, included in the annual phytosanitary calendar of the municipal green areas. The protocol is managed and supervised by a phytosanitary advisor, who draws up the annual calendar and the prior advisory document.