Chestnut death: Minier moth and drought threaten our trees

Chestnut death: Minier moth and drought threaten our trees

In the past few weeks, the image of dry, fallen leaves is piled up under chestnut trees. This is not only due to the heat of the past few days, but rather to a persistent pest, the chestnut moth. The insect customer Olaf Zimmermann from the Augustenberg agricultural technology center in Karlsruhe emphasizes that the infestation is particularly striking this year. The white horse chestnuts in various avenues, parks and gardens have hardly any leaves in summer and what remains, works dry and withered

Like Roland Mühlethaler from the Nature Conservation Association (NABU), the drop in the first leaves typically announces the second half of August. He also emphasizes that the warming of climate is increasingly manifested in nature in nature.

The role of drought

The effects of dryness are considerable for the horse chestnut. Mühlethaler explains that the continued drought makes the trees more susceptible to pests like the miner moth due to stress. The trees show clear signs of stress, especially in northeastern Germany, where there have been dry conditions for several years, and unfortunately many have already died. The horse chestnut originally comes from the Mediterranean, but due to its biological demands, it requires sufficient moisture to grow healthy.

The connection between pests and weather conditions is not new. The combination of drought and high pest infestation could lead to the trees die in the long term, Mühlethaler continues. This is an alarming development, especially when you consider that healthy trees play an important role in the ecosystem.

an invasive threat

The horse chestnut moth (Cameraria Ohridella) is a butterfly around five millimeters long, which is not one of the domestic species. This invasive species lays its eggs on the top of the chestnut trees. After about three weeks, the larvae hatch and eat through the leafine, which the leaves enabled and at some point die. This dying of the leaves has far -reaching consequences, since the trees are restricted in their ability to photosynthesis, which ultimately weakens them and makes them more susceptible to further stress.

Another problem is that in milder winters, many larvae survive in the minier moth, which could only tighten the situation in the coming spring and summer season.

In order to counter the minier moth, the tree lover can take some simple measures. Careful collecting and disposing of the fallen leaves can help remove the larvae and thus prevent the new resettlement of the moth.

It is particularly noticeable that only the white -flowering horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum) are affected by this pest. The red -flowering species Aesculus Carnea, on the other hand, is spared.

Rosskastanie has a long history in Europe; Since the 17th century, it has been planted in parks and streets due to its attractive leaves and flowers. The Miniermotte has spread in an invasion since 1989 and has probably found its way from former inaccessible gorges in the Balkans to Europe.

A look at the future of chestnuts

The current problems with the horse chestnut shed light on the challenges in front of which this tree species is facing. The interaction of drought and pest infestation could have long -term effects on your health and your continued existence. It remains to be hoped that a balance can be restored by targeted measures such as collecting the leaves and planting local tree species in order to preserve the beauty and the ecological value of the chestnut trees in our cities.

habitat and meaning of the horse chestnut

Rosskastanie (Aesculus hippocastanum) is not only an aesthetically appealing tree, but also an important part of many urban and rural ecosystems in Europe. Your large leaves offer shadow donations and contribute to improving the urban climate by filtering air pollutants. In addition, the horse chestnut attracts many insects, including bees and butterflies that are attracted by their flowers.

In urban areas, it acts as a valuable tree for biodiversity by offering habitats for different ways. However, their seeds and leaves are poisonous for some animals, such as horses. Nevertheless, horse chestnut plays an important role in social and cultural landscape, often planted in parks and as an allebaum.

climate change and its effects on plant species

The effects of climate change are a central topic of today's environmental research. Higher temperatures and changed precipitation patterns not only affect the living conditions of plants, but also on their susceptibility to pests. Studies show that the increasing drought and the change in the seasons accelerate the life cycles of pests such as the chestnut moth.

An investigation by the German Weather Service (DWD) shows that the average temperatures in Germany in the last century rose by about 1.5 degrees Celsius. This not only changes the growth period of the plants, but also the reproductive cycles of the pests that can survive and spread in a milder climate. The interaction between climate factors and pests is a serious threat to many domestic plants.

prevention and combating pests

Combating the chestnut moth is a central concern for many garden owners and city administrations. In addition to collecting and disposing of the infected leaves, there are also other measures to minimize the spread of the moth. This includes the use of pheromone traps that attract males of the moths and thus interrupt reproduction. Such a type of control is more environmentally friendly than chemical spray.

Another method is the so -called "tree protection concept", in which the horse chestnuts are regularly examined for infestation and treated accordingly. Scientists also recommend planting alternative tree species that are less susceptible to pests to increase biodiversity and reduce the susceptibility of ecosystems against diseases and pests.

social awareness and need for action

In recent years, awareness of the problem of invasive species and climate change has increased. Initiatives of nature conservation organizations and urban administrations try to educate the population about the importance of local species and the threats by pests. Education is a crucial factor in the fight against the pests, since many garden owners often do not know how to react effectively to an infestation.

In addition, the public discussion about the preservation of biodiversity leads to more and more people are committed to plant protection and rely on local tree species. This movement towards environmentally conscious decisions could help in the long term to make ecosystems more resistant to climatic changes and pests.