In recent years, there has been an increase in cases of chestnut trees in Odessa being affected by the leaf miner. This issue is not only relevant to our city but also to many European cities.

Since 2017, specialists from the Municipal Enterprise "City Green Trust" have been vaccinating chestnuts annually to prevent the negative effects of tree infestations.

To administer the injection into the tree's vascular system, a small hole is made, allowing the medication to spread and penetrate the leaves, making them inedible for the leaf miner. As a result, the larvae perish. This method of pest control is permitted in populated areas, as it is completely safe for both the environment and the tree itself.

In 2025, 1,000 trees were vaccinated.

Note
The leaf miner is a dangerous pest for chestnuts. The caterpillars live and feed inside the leaves, leading to the destruction of the leaf cover and causing significant damage to urban chestnut plantings. The damage caused by this pest in Europe amounts to hundreds of millions of euros each year, raising concerns about the feasibility of cultivating horse chestnuts in urban areas. The loss of foliage results in insufficient nutrient accumulation, which can lead to tree mortality during winter.