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Province to conduct aerial treatments against invasive moth species

The BC Ministry of Forests is set to conduct aerial-spray treatments across the province to eradicate spongy months this spring.

The sprayings will take place in several different municipalities, including 80 hectares in Kamloops and 52 hectares in West Kelowna.

<who> Photo Credit: BC Ministry of Forests</who> Adult male spongy moth (left) and adult female spongy moth (right).Spongy moths, also known as Lymantria moths and formerly known as gypsy moths, are an invasive species and pose a risk to forests, farms, orchards and trees.

The moth’s caterpillars feed on tree leaves and in recent years have “defoliated sections of forests and residential areas in Ontario and the eastern United States.”

“The biological insecticide used for treatment is Foray 48B," reads a news release.

"It is used in organic farming and the active ingredient, Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (Btk), is naturally present in urban, agricultural and forest soils throughout the province."

<who> Photo Credit: BC Ministry of Forests

Foray 48B only affects the stomachs of moth and butterfly caterpillars and is specific to their digestive system and the treatment has been approved in Canada since 1961.

If the moths are left untreated, they risk spreading to other parts of the province.

<who> Photo Credit: BC Ministry of Forests

The treatments are under the direction of the BC Plant Protection Advisory Council's Spongy Moth Technical Advisory Committee.

More information on the pesticide-use permit and the boundaries of the treatment areas can be found online at this link.



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