Gypsy Moth Spray Update, July 22, 2014
GYPSY MOTH AERIAL SPRAY UPDATE – July 22, 2014
COMPLETED for this year: All spraying is complete for this year except what is planned for this week in the three counties listed below.
UPCOMING SPRAY PLANS by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection:
WHEN: July 24 and July 25, weather permitting.
WHERE: Select treatment sites in Douglas, Rusk and Sawyer counties. Maps of spray sites are available to view online at http://gypsymoth.wi.gov.
WHY: To control the spread of gypsy moth, a destructive and invasive pest that feeds on the leaves of oaks, maples, crabapple, birch and many other species of trees and shrubs.
SPRAY DETAILS:
All remaining sites will be sprayed with pheromone treatments. The spraying does not affect organic certification.
- Pheromone flakes are mating disruptors. The flakes are tiny – about the size of a grain of rice. They are flat and green. The sticky flakes are applied at a rate of one to two flakes per square foot of tree canopy.
- The pheromone flakes do not kill or harm gypsy moths. They prevent reproduction by tricking adult male moths. In nature, male gypsy moths fly, while female moths cannot. In order to find each other and reproduce, females release a pheromone for the males to track and follow. The flakes also release this pheromone. The male moths track and follow a false trail and finding no female, no reproduction occurs. The pheromone is undetectable to other insects.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Spraying can start as early as sunrise and will continue until the day’s spray plan is complete and as weather conditions allow. Spraying requires calm winds, high humidity and no precipitation.
The planes will fly low, just above the tree tops. It will be loud.
Pets or livestock may be frightened by the noise of the low-flying planes.
Feel free to share this information with others.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Spray updates are available as a recorded message on the toll-free information line 1-800-642-6684, press 1. You also can get instant updates by connecting with us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/widatcp) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/widatcp).
For more information or to view maps of the spray areas, please see http://gypsymoth.wi.gov.
If you would like to talk with program staff about the upcoming spray, call the information line above and press 3. You can also send an e-mail togypsymoth@wisconsin.gov.