Remote-sensing and tree-ring based characterization of forest defoliation and growth loss due to the Mediterranean pine processionary moth.

Highlights: [•] How defoliating insects affect Mediterranean pine forests in the long term? [•] We used a 43-year long field survey of pine processionary moth (PPM) defoliation. [•] We assessed growth and cover by using tree-ring and Landsat remote-sensing data. [•] Several vegetation indices reflected the PPM defoliations. [•] Dendroecology and remote sensing allow detecting PPM outbreaks in pine forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]