Protecting Chestnuts from Leaf Miners: Innovative Approaches
In recent years, there has been an increase in the cases of chestnuts in Odessa being affected by leaf miners. This issue is not unique to our city but is prevalent in many European cities.
Since 2017, to prevent the adverse effects of leaf miner infestations on trees, specialists from the municipal enterprise 'Miskzelentrest' have been vaccinating chestnuts annually with a specialized vaccine.
The vaccine is injected into the vascular tissue of the tree through a small hole, allowing the medication to disperse and penetrate the leaves, making them inedible for leaf miners. As a result of this procedure, the larvae die. This pest control method is permitted in populated areas as it is entirely safe for the environment and the trees themselves.
In 2025, 1000 trees were vaccinated.
Note
The leaf miner is a dangerous pest for chestnuts. The larvae live and feed inside the leaves, leading to significant damage to the trees and causing substantial harm to urban chestnut plantings. In Europe, the damage caused by this type of pest is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of euros annually, raising questions about the viability of cultivating horse chestnuts in urban settings. The damage inflicted by the larvae results in insufficient nutrient accumulation in the trees, which can contribute to winter dieback.
