Pest control in Èze

Built environment and local building types

The territory of Èze rises from the coast to the perched village, by way of corniche roads dotted with contemporary villas and wooded properties. The medieval heart concentrates terraced stone houses with thick walls, stepped lanes and vaulted cellars, heavily visited by tourists. On the slopes, olive terraces, pine woods and exotic gardens form dense plant cover crossed by footpaths. This alternation of old stone buildings and Mediterranean woodland multiplies the shelters available to tree-dwelling rodents and stinging insects.

Seasonal pressures and sentinel species in Èze

The garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) settles from autumn onwards in the lofts, garages and sheds of properties beneath the pines, where it builds up reserves before overwintering. The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) constructs secondary nests in tall trees and beneath roof overhangs, with predation activity peaking from August to October. The pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) weaves its winter nests in the pines along the corniches, then begins its urticating processions at the end of winter. The black rat (Rattus rattus) takes advantage of dry-stone walls and vegetation to reach the roofs and food stores of the old village.