Once again, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDOA) is working with participating municipalities to carry out this season's Gypsy Moth Cooperative Suppression Program (GMCSP). It will involve aerial spraying of selected sites by plane with one application of a relatively non-toxic biological insecticide.
The purpose of the program is to combat the rapid growth of gypsy moths. Gypsy moths in their caterpillar (larvae) stage have ferocious appetites, devouring leaves of trees and even shrubs and can rapidly defoliate entire trees, which eventually results in killing the trees. Gypsy moths usually reach the caterpillar stage during late April and May, staying in that stage through early July. It is New Jersey's most destructive forest insect pest. Therefore state sponsored preventive programs, such as the GMCSP, must spray large ares of potentially infected areas with an insectide in May, usually involving aerial spraying by aircraft over hundreds and thousands of acres.
The NJDOA has offered to participating municipalities the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis, (B.t.) for this season's GMCSP. While B.t. is considered relatively non-toxic, if you want to avoid contact when spraying occurs, then stay indoors during the spraying and for at least 10 minutes after the aircraft spraying the chemical passes overhead. The chemical is spayed as a fine mist, which sticks to the leaves and then the caterpillars ingest it along with the leaves. It takes up to 10 days for the chemical to take effect after ingestion.
Click here for spray zones and times. For more specific information about scheduled spraying times, consult your local municipality. Spraying will begin in May.
(Source: NJ DOA)
NJ Dept. of Ag. online Gypsy Moth Suppression Program information and resources:
New Jersey Department of Agriculture - Gypsy Moth Supression - General information, spray zones / times, etc.
New Jersey Department of Agriculture - Gypsy Moth Suppression - B.t. chemical information
New Jersey Department of Agriculture - Gypsy Moth Suppression - Homeowner Fact Sheet
2007 New Jersey Gypsy Moth Aerial Defoliation Survey Results (PDF)
Related Gypsy Moth information resources:
USDA - Gypsy Moth Program Manual (PDF)
Wikipedia - Gypsy Moth
Copyright 2008 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.
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