Information on Gypsy Moth Control<TITLE> <META NAME="Description" Content="Info from CSDA on Gypsy Moth spray program"> <BODY BGCOLOR="EEFFFF"> <h1>Gypsy Moth Spraying 2010</h1> <p>GYPSY MOTH POPULATIONS ARE DOWN IN THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES</p> <h3>Maryland</h3> <p>Gypsy moth populations are way down. All spraying will be in Talbot County. Total acreage will around 254 acres.</p> <p>Bt is planned to be used in Talbot Co.</p> <p>Maryland Dept. of Agriculture says "We are going to try to get it done Friday morning, April 30,2010 weather and all other conditions dependent."</p> <blockquote>Link: <a href="http://www.mda.state.md.us/plants-pests/forest_pest_mgmt/gypsy_moth/gypsy_moth_program_policy.php">mda.state.md.us Gypsy Moth Program</a></blockquote> <h3>Pennsylvania</h3> <p>According to the Bureau of Forestry, there will be no PA gypsy moth suppression program in 2010. Gypsy moth populations have collapsed and no areas qualified for treatment, either on state lands or private lands.</p> <blockquote>"In addition, the state budget was cut $3.4 million so we do not have any money for spraying anyway. Last year we treated 177,668 acres and there were 239,694 acres defoliated along with 108,402 acres of tree mortality. The devastation in central and north-central PA has been amazing. There are a lot of dead trees due to this past outbreak. In some areas mortality has approached 90% of the stand."<br> "The forest tent caterpillar however is causing a huge problem in north-central PA. We had 371,267 acres of defoliation due to forest tent caterpillar and expect to have another bad year in 2010. We have no plans to treat for forest tent caterpillar as we have no money. There will be some private applications for forest tent caterpillar up in Potter and McKean Counties and maybe in northeastern PA in Pike and Wayne counties".</blockquote> <h3>Virginia</h3> <blockquote>Gypsy Moth populations are low in Virginia and other eastern states. As a result, there are no Btk or Dimilin treatments scheduled in Virginia this year. The only gypsy moth treatments that will be conducted are pheromone treatments in southwest Virginia and there will be Gypchek treatments (Gypchek is the gypsy moth-specific virus) which will take place in False Cape State Park (below Virginia Beach).</blockquote> <h3>West Virginia</h3> <blockquote>The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture-Forest Service (USDA-FS) is proposing aerial treatment of approximately 83,084 acres for the purpose of slowing the spread of gypsy moth to forested lands within West Virginia. The WVDA proposes to treat these acres under the Slow the Spread (STS) Program. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture's (WVDA) overall objectives in its gypsy moth programs are to slow the spread of the insect and reduce its impact on the state's timber, recreation resources and its citizens. It will also benefit states to the south and west by slowing the spread of the pest.</blockquote> <blockquote>WVDA trapping results determined that treatment is needed in Boone, Logan, Raleigh, and Wyoming Counties. One proposed large mating disruption treatment block (80,255 acres) includes portions of Boone, Logan, Raleigh and Wyoming Counties. Two smaller blocks in Boone County (426 acres and 2403 acres) are also proposed for 2010 treatments.</blockquote> <blockquote>The proposed WVDA treatment area was delineated by trap catches and confirmed by the treatment decision algorithm. These treatment areas will be treated with pheromone flakes which act to confuse the male moths during the mating process. The Pheromone Flake treatments will be conducted under the USDA-FS STS Program. The adjoining map shows the general location of the proposed treatment areas. More detailed maps with specific locations of the proposed treatment areas are available for review at the New Creek or Charleston offices of the WVDA Plant Industries Division. These areas would be treated sometime during late June 2010 depending on weather conditions and the stage of development of the gypsy moth.<br> The young gypsy moth caterpillars are spread by the wind, which blows the silken threads they exude, creating a parachute effect. Movement by this mechanism tends to be slow. Humans however, has sped the process up considerably, by unwittingly transporting the pest as eggs or caterpillars in loads of firewood, on RVs, campers, and other vehicles. WVDA officials caution against the transport of firewood into or out of the state because pests such as the gypsy moth, hemlock woolly adelgid, emerald ash borer, and other invasive insects may be in or on the wood. Non-native pests such as these have potentially devastating economic effects. Owners of RVs and campers are asked to thoroughly inspect and wash their equipment before moving it. Even with all of these cautions the gypsy moth has, and will continue to spread, leaving site specific treatments as the only way to keep it from population explosions and resulting tree mortality.</blockquote> <blockquote>The WVDA consulted with the WV Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Biologist and the United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Services concerning the presence of rare, threatened or endangered species issues in the proposed treatment areas. Both agencies concurred that no impacts to any rare, threatened or endangered species are anticipated.<br> The WVDA will immediately begin solicitation of public comment on the areas proposed for treatment to reduce the devastating affect on West Virginia's forest by the gypsy moths. The WVDA will use this input to identify any significant issues related to the proposed project and to develop a range of alternatives. Any comments, concerns, or interest in this proposed project should be submit in writing to Quentin "Butch" Sayers, Gypsy Moth Program Manager, PO Box 9 New Creek, WV 26743 or via e-mail to qsayers@ag.state.wv.us no later than March 1, 2010.</blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.chemsense.com">ChemSense.com</a></p> <p></p> </body> </html>