Here's a site you could check out http://france-nuisibles.fr is a paid for directory listing qualified pest controllers in France. There might be one close to you. Click in the pest (chenilles) then add your postcode where required.
I cannot vouch for them, but all will be qualified.
Good luck.
Rob
Nor ours 
Mine won't.
I believe that the Mairie will assist.
Ditto. I read your post & we found a huge mass about half a metre from the dog’s ball. She’s now locked in & they’ve been petrol bombed.
We have a flame thrower (well it is a big hose that you put on a butane tank and then light the other end to kill weeds).
60 taken out. Dogs on BioHazzard lock down.
:(
They are the vilest things ever! Have had a good response from our friendly farmer who feels it’s in his interests to get the big guns in & get the nests down, followed by the trees where they’re living. Good luck!!
Mavellous.Just got a phone call from other half that the little b'stards are out in the garden.
I think we may be chopping down a tree and if our neighbor won't do it, I will.
Indeed, they avoided the road and the overhead cable. Wouldn't have trusted myself to have felled them. Elsewhere in the woods; not a problem.
As for the drones, I guess I'll watch this space.
They are testing drones for asian hornet nests but as helicopters have been banned, they, probably ban the drones as well.
120€, 2 men, cherry picker, 1 hour, I wouldn't knock it. Sounds like a bargain!
He he.
Indeed, it's now tomorrow morning and the sun is beaming on the Coromandel Peninsular whilst others are still yesterdaying with hot chocolate!
Akl tomorow!
Certibiocides.
Farmers etc [should] have Certiphyto which is the basic understanding and authority to use products on their land. The Certibiocides replaced DAPA, which I held for 5 years.
I can buy professional pest control insecticides and rodenticides etc in bulk and can use responsibly, ha ha....I can't sell direct to the public, so please don't ask!
I am also registered with SIMMBAD a gourvenment agency where I have to inform what quantities of products I use.
The SIMMBAD website is useful to the public for resourcing technical data (fiche de securité) such as antidotes, first aid etc.
Photos of the nests about 10m high
Phew !
That's a relief...they sound really horrible...
Yes, just conifer trees from the genus Pinus, yew is Taxus I think but definitely not a pine. Nuts, box and so on are no problem. Only coniferous, not deciduous trees. Pinus syslvestris, Scots pine, is the number one culprit, Norway pine sometimes called red pine is a North American import that gets smothered by the buggers. Thank Napoleon for his inspiration to increase conifer cultivation for cheaper wood.
Brian,
I'm rather alarmed by your assertion that 'just one can kill a cat'.....
Is it positive that just pine species are affected ? I have two enormous Yew trees, a couple of old walnuts and an apple tree.....various box hedges and boules....
Such useful information here - thank you! Can anyone tell me if we are doing the right thing to pour boiling water on the marching chenilles, then to burn them? We have 4 heavily infested trees and are trying to decide what to do long-term, but we’re hoping this will keep us safe until we can get an expert in to advise us.
We just had 3 large pine trees felled at a cost of 120€ for an hour's work: two men and a large tractor mounted cherry-picker. We don't have your caterpillar problem but I do sympathise as they are obviously a thorny pest. I expect that the lumberjack/bûcheron guys would want lots of loot to tackle trees infested with these beasties. I am told, however, that the insects need to come down to the ground to breed and that a special sticky band wrapped around near the base of the trees can catch them. Worth looking into. Perhaps some enterprising person will start a service spraying them with a purpose built drone.
Which French diploma do you have Robert ?
PS… Enjoy NZL. Love it there. My sister lived in Auckland for 30 years. You should be asleep!