ENVIRONMENT UNIT AND SAG ANALYZE THE SITUATION OF CIPRESES DE PUERTO NATALES

–

In order to timely apply control measures against the eventual presence of forest pests, avoiding their establishment or minimizing their negative effects, the Environment Unit of the Illustrious Municipality of Natales in conjunction with the Last Hope Agricultural Service, carried out a sanitary survey of the cypresses and urban trees, located in the main square of the provincial capital.

After the prospecting carried out, a multisectoral public-private meeting was coordinated, which made it possible to transmit, both to neighbors and to the community authority and other competent bodies in the matter, that although the damage corresponds to the effect of the Cinara cupressi plague, these would have been caused in previous seasons, since at the time of the inspection no evidence of current activity was found, such as the presence of larvae or the insect. Likewise, recommendations were given for a correct irrigation, pruning and fertilization of the species, in different seasons of the year, as it was also indicated that the current distribution of the pest will be studied.
In this context, the person in charge of the Environment Unit, Fabiola Vigar, pointed out that “it was established that SAG will carry out a diagnosis of each situation, in our case it is the plague, that is why they are going to give us recommendations to apply the invigorating foliar control and to be able to strengthen the trees of the city ”.

In addition, Vigar, gave some recommendations in case of verifying the presence of the cypress aphid, “you always have to make a phytosanitary complaint. They have to go directly to the office, call by phone or through the page of the Agricultural Livestock Service. They are the ones who give the technical recommendations to control this Cinara cupressi ”.

Alejandro Canales Helmer, head of the provincial office of SAG Ultima Esperanza confirmed that “although during the phytosanitary prospecting visit the presence of insects or other pests was not detected, the observed symptoms, or foliar necrosis, that cypress trees present, would correspond to damage from previous seasons caused by this aphid ”.

“Cinara cupressi is considered one of the most important invasive pests in the world and in Chile it is present throughout the national continental territory, affecting both native forest species, as well as exotic species that are used ornamentally in urban areas. That is why in this multisectoral work, where in addition to SAG and the municipality, CONAF participated, it was sought to combine criteria aimed at promoting the use of biological controllers, such as chinitas, which are predators of aphids, and optimize the management of aphids. trees that are made in the city, ruling out the use of chemical control, ”Canales pointed out.
During the next few weeks the municipality will carry out a study of the soil in the main square to determine other factors that influence the presence of the cypress aphid.

–