GYPSY MOTH SUPPRESSION PROGRAM UPDATE MAY 5
The Township of Gloucester has been notified today (May 5) that we will have the arial spraying for the State Gypsy Moth Suppression Program tomorrow, May 6th (Tuesday), between 5:30 am & 8:00 am. The area around Camden County College will be sprayed first, then the Sturbridge Oaks Development. For additional information, read details below or contact Mayor Rau-Hatton’s office at 856-374-3514.
Residential Notification for the 2008 Gypsy Moth Control Program
Gypsy moth egg mass surveys, conducted by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, indicate that gypsy moth population will be very high during May and June 2008. Leaf feeding by the caterpillars of this pest will cause severe defoliation of many of our trees. Consequently, the municipality has entered into a cooperative control program with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the United States Forest Service. This program is being operated on an integrated approach, utilizing a pesticide with a naturally occurring active ingredient to reduce defoliating populations of the forest pest. The aerial spraying will be employed around residential and recreational areas to reduce tree loss, while natural control agents will be encouraged to reduce pest levels in remote, uninhabited areas.
In your area, only the biological insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurkstaki (FORAY 76B, EPA Reg.#73049-49) will be applied once by aircraft at a dosage rate of 38 B.I.U.€s (64 oz.) per acre by Downstown Aero Crop Service (DEP Lic.#90029), 339 Harding Highway, Vineland New Jersey. The spray operation is expected to begin on or after May 1, 2008 through June 1, 2008 or until completion. The exact date of application will depend on climate conditions and the development of the caterpillars and trees in your area. Joan Wagner, Mayor Rau-Hatton’s Aide, will be the contact person for our Township and may be reached at (856) 228-4000 ext. 210, 1261 Chews Landing Road, PO Box 8, Blackwood, NJ 08012 to answer any questions you may have about the exact timing and dates of treatment.
To ensure precise placement of the spray material, aircraft will conduct treatments only when there is little or no wind. Daily spray operations normally are conducted early in the morning between 5:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and possibly between 5:00 p.m. and 8: p.m. in the evening. However, no pesticide application for gypsy moth control will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. during operations Monday through Friday only.
Although B.t.k. use has very minimal risk to humans of wildlife, individuals wishing no exposure to either themselves or their children, before or after this one hour no spray shutdown time should remain indoors during the treatment. If you must go outside, wear rain gear or use an umbrella to prevent contact with the spray material, especially if you hear the aircraft working in your area.
Trained personnel from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and our municipality will assist in the program. Pilots will be carefully briefed to ensure that the spray material is being applied in the proper areas as directed.
The program is being conducted to protect and preserve the municipalities and your valuable shade tree resources. Your understanding and cooperation will be very much appreciated.
Individuals wishing additional information about pesticides may contact the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378. For emergencies call the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System at 1-800-222-1222. For pesticide regulation information, pesticide complaints, and health referrals call the New Jersey Pesticide Control Program at 609-984-6507.
Upon request, the pesticide applicator or applicator business shall provide a resident with notification 12 hours prior to the application, except for Quarantine and Disease Vector Control only, when conditions necessitate pesticide applications sooner than that time. Additional information about the program is available on the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s website at http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/gypsymoth.html
FACT SHEET
Bacillus thuringiensi svar. kurstaki, (B.t.k.)
Used in the Gypsy Moth Aerial Spray Program
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture will again be offering to participating municipalities the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, (B.t.k.) in the 2008 Gypsy Moth Cooperative Suppression Program.
TOXICOLOGY
B.t.k. is among the least toxic insecticides for use in residential areas to control the gypsy moth. Its active ingredient is a bacterium, which occurs naturally in the environment B.t.k. has a high specific mode of action in controlling caterpillars and has shown no toxicity to mammals, fish of other wildlife at the recommended field rates. However, those individuals wishing a near zero exposure to themselves or their children during the spray operation, should stay indoors for at least 10 –20 minutes, or use an umbrella to intercept the fine spray mist is outdoors when the aircraft passes.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTIVENESS
B.t.k. must be ingested by the gypsy moth caterpillar to be effective, therefore, larval mortality is not immediate and may take up to ten days for mortality to occur. Generally, the new dosage rates of B.t.k. used by the Department of Agriculture provides good foliage protection and population control. However, proper timing is critical since the larger caterpillars are harder to kill, therefore, extensive shutdowns, for any reason, could reduce the effectiveness of the pesticide.
ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY
B.t.k. will be applied at a dose of 38 B.I.U.’s (64 oz.) per acre by aircraft. The cost of aerial treatments varies between $20.00-$40.00 per acre depending on the dosage rate, geographical location and size of the treatment blocks. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the local municipality are currently sharing this cost. Only spray programs utilizing New Jersey Department of Agriculture prescribed insecticides and under State supervision are eligible for these cost-sharing funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
B.t.k. has a residual life of less than 10 days and has little or no impact on non-target organisms. B.tk.. residues do not present a hazard, and sprays can be applied near water or over garden crops without causing adverse effects.
