Germany battles oak processionary moth outbreak, closing Berlin parks

German authorities are confronting a surge of oak processionary moth caterpillars, whose microscopic barbed hairs can cause rashes, conjunctivitis and breathing difficulties. The insects build white, silky nests on oak trees, dispersing toxic hairs that travel on the wind.

In Berlin, the districts of Charlottenburg‑Wilmersdorf, Spandau and Friedrichshain‑Kreuzberg are hotspots. Parks such as Wilhelm‑von‑Siemens‑Park and Jungfernheide have been closed, and teams of workers in full protective gear use specialised vacuum machines—originally designed for asbestos removal—to suction nests from branches up to 20 m high, aiming to clear around 20 trees per day.

Similar infestations have been reported in Hamburg and North Rhine‑Westphalia. Experts link the northward expansion to hotter, drier weather and climate‑change‑driven biodiversity loss. Residents are advised to avoid contact, wash clothing after park visits and keep windows shut. The map creator Britta Wunderwald said, “I was wondering if I can go outside … there is no actual map for this year,” highlighting the lack of public guidance.