Gypsy Moth Treatment Scheduled for Parts of Indiana’s Fulton, Lake Counties Delayed to Week of June 11
OutdoorHub 05.31.12
Aerial treatments to disrupt the mating process of gypsy moths in Fulton and Lake counties are delayed until the week of June 11.
This is a change from the date listed on a postcard area residents received from the DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, which listed the week of June 4 as the start of the annual treatments. The delay is the result of weather slowing gypsy moth development and of treatment airplanes that will be working in other states on the originally scheduled dates.
Current plans bring the planes to Fulton County on June 11 and to Lake County on June 13. If wind or rain prevents or stops treatment on June 11 and 13, the treatment will resume on the next suitable day.
The treatment will start in the early morning and continue until completed or stopped by weather
Additional updates on the treatment date will be made by press releases and on the DNR entomology website, gypsymoth.IN.gov. The website also includes maps of the treatment areas and other information.
The mating-disruption technique has been used in other states and in Indiana since 1999. It has proved effective where there is low-level infestation and female moths are hard to find. The gypsy moth, which now has a foothold in some counties in northern Indiana, was brought to this country from Europe more than 100 years ago.
Treatments will help preserve the long-term health of Indiana’s woodlands and urban forests. The gypsy moth is the most serious forest and urban landscape pest in the United States.
The mating-disruption process consists of dropping small plastic flakes from a crop duster airplane.
The green flakes carry the scent of the female gypsy moth. The tiny flakes, each about the size of a hyphen on a typewriter, falsely indicate an abundance of females in the area. The male moths recognize the scent on the flakes and look for a mate in the wrong place. The males, being misled, fail to mate, and no offspring are produced to eat the tree leaves the next year.
While the application poses no health threat to people, pets, livestock or other animals, individuals in the treatment areas may notice the small green flakes on their vehicles. Washing vehicles promptly with soap and water will remove the flakes.
Anyone with questions about this project may call toll free at 1-866 NO EXOTIC (1-866-663-9684)
