Some pictues of my small pines with nests I killed, and one in a high tree I didn't.
I thought I had pictures of the bark beetles too, but I can't find them now.

Yes it is for real-whole roads would be closed in the early morning and they would get a good blasting then sprayed and a road sweeping lorry would suck them all up and take them off for a mass bonfire-the Italians love a bit of drama

The active ingredient in that insecticide is Cipermethrin (Cipermetrina in Portuguese). You can buy that from Sanipina in Lagoa or ADP in Portimāo (opposite Aqua next to GLS), it's behind the counter so you have to ask. Dilute in a sprayer with water and away you go.

Is the license required ?

I've never been asked for one. I bought from both places last year. I use the same product in a home made fertigator to control ants on a lawn.

Went to Lagoa today but Sanipini wouldn,t play ball - certificate required.
ADP however were extremely helpful and fixed me up
Enquired about doing the course to get the certificate - 140€ 5 consecutive Saturdays all day and an exam at the end Hmmm.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up Score76, lets hope ADP continue to accommodate !

Only in Portuguese I was told, so you'd have to be reasonably fluent.

ADP; I'll have to remember that for when my supply runs out.
That will only be in a few years though.

When should these caterpillars stop their marching?

When they find somewhere to pupate.

Then a bit later on you can have a whole new batch of adults to start the cycle again..........

Also, the final exam is a written one - in Portuguese !
However, over 75,s are exempt and can get a certificate without doing the course.

At one of my drogerias I can buy insecticides without a license or certificate. I obviously look over 75 and therefore not worth saving.

https://www.portugalresident.com/hol...c-caterpillar/

But is the pesticide worse?

Just got an email from sohorta.pt advertising stuff for these pests. For those on the Algarve they are situuated on the N125 by Portimao. They do deliver quickly as we have had stuff from them. (sorry about type, just appeared like this.Not wanting to be in your face !!)

Type size used to be on the band above the message but it is no longer there so I could not change it for you.

Rosemary

Where we are (Netherlands) they tend to nest on the trunk of Oak trees which are plentiful alongside roadways and paths.
Here, the council now has a spray machine on a trailer towed behind a tractor. They treat the trees in the spring as the problem has got so big.
Even so, we get warned each year if they are around.
As the weather warms up the caterpillars become active and could be seen in large squirming groups most often 8 - 10 m up.
The spraying has helped reduce the problem somewhat.
We used to walk our dogs a few years ago and they would be hanging down on silken strands waiting to drop onto your head or around your face..glad we don't see that any more.