WHEATON – Residents of Wheaton may soon see a small yellow plane flying around the city to help fight a moth infestation that reaches across Illinois, according to a news release from the city.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture and Environmental Programs has scheduled Wheaton as one of the next municipalities to receive treatment against the European Gypsy Moth. The moth is an invasive species and one of the most damaging forest and tree pests in the United States, according to the release, and is firmly established in the state of Illinois.
There is no set date for the plane to drop roughly 6 grams per acre of the biological product Disrupt II over Wheaton. The IDAEP says that the product helps prevent mating in the area and is completely safe for humans, animals, non-target organisms and the environment. To learn more about the process, visit the Illinois Department of Agriculture website.