REYNOLDSBURG - The Ohio Department of Agriculture will soon begin aerial treatments designed to control the gypsy moth population in Ross County.
Treatments on 1,474 acres in Perry, Ross and Scioto Counties will begin in late April, as larva and leaf development reaches the optimal threshold for treatment.
Treatments are administered using a low-flying aircraft that flies just above tree tops. High humidity, low temperature and minimal wind are crucial for a successful application. Treatment will most likely take place during early morning hours.
The department will use Foray (Btk), a naturally occurring bacterium found in the soil that interferes with the caterpillars’ feeding cycles and Gypchek (NPV), a virus that affects only the gypsy moth caterpillars and has no effect on beneficial insects. These treatments are not toxic to humans, pets, birds or fish.
Gypsy moths are invasive insects that defoliate over 300 species of trees and shrubs. In Ohio, 51 counties are currently under gypsy moth quarantine regulations.
For more information about the gypsy moth or for specific treatment locations, visit www.agri.ohio.gov.
Original article can be found here: http://www.chillicothegazette.com