Due to continuous drought and high temperatures, pine moths are now rampant in north China's Shanxi Province, eating away large areas of pine forest.

Statistics released by the provincial forestry bureau show that about 23,647 hectares of forest has been affected by the rapacious pest. In some forests, more than 1000 of the moths could be detected on a single tree.

The pine moths eat pine leaves, and if not stopped, can entirely destroy forests.

Since the plague was reported, relevant departments have taken a variety of measures to prevent the pine moth spreading.

So far, about 6,793 hectares of forest has been saved, by methods such as pesticide spraying and wrapping trees with protective material.

A provincial government source said the possibility of a province-wide pine moth plague had been ruled out, but prevention work should be continued as the situation was still severe.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2003)