Video: A dangerous outbreak has swept through Siberia and Altai
Swarms of the odd-spined silkworm are destroying the forests of Siberia and Altai, and are also invading residential buildings, where they lay eggs on walls and curtains. The caterpillars of this pest can feed on more than 300 species of plants.
The area affected by the odd-spotted silkworm has grown from 1.3 to 1.5 million hectares over the past year, according to officials from the State Forest Pathology Monitoring Service. To halt the spread of the pest, forest treatments are being carried out in regions across Siberia. Work has been conducted in the Novosibirsk, Tyumen, and Omsk regions, as well as in the Altai Republic and Tuva. More than one billion rubles have been allocated for this effort.
The caterpillars of the odd-spotted silkworm can feed on more than 300 plant species, including fruit trees and shrubs. Residents of these regions are posting photos of gnawed-on branches: with the tree crowns completely stripped bare, it seems as though fall has arrived earlier than it should. Meanwhile, summer residents are complaining about their destroyed orchards and vegetable gardens. After pupating and emerging as moths, they make their way into homes, land on windows, and lay eggs right in the folds of the curtains.
Experts say the pest infestation was caused by several factors: migration from neighboring regions—the Omsk, Sverdlovsk, and Kurgan regions—as well as a series of dry years and relatively mild winters. Mass outbreaks of the gypsy moth occur cyclically and can last three to four years.
In addition, pockets of the Siberian silkworm moth and minor pockets of the nun moth, the pine silkworm moth, and the oak dark-winged silkworm moth have also been detected.
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