Berks County Conservation District seeks the community’s assistance in suppressing the gypsy moth in Berks County.
“Gypsy moths have not been a major issue in Berks County this year as a whole, but certain areas along the Blue Mountain have noticed quite a bit of damage,” said Evan Corondi, Vector Control & Outreach Coordinator for Berks County Conservation District in Leesport.
In particular, gypsy moths have been an issue near Kempton and Bethel.
According to the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website, www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/insectsdisease/gypsymoth/index.htm, “Defoliation by Lymantria dispar, the gypsy moth, has killed millions of oak trees across Pennsylvania. Although white, chestnut, black and red oak are preferred, gypsy moth caterpillars also eat hundreds of other tree and shrub species including apple, alder, aspen, basswood, birch, poplar, willow, hawthorn, hemlock, tamarack (larch), pine, spruce, and witch hazel.”
“It is important to suppress gypsy moth in areas that have high densities of favored tree species like oaks and high densities of gypsy moth because if the trees are attacked several years in a row they can be killed due to prolonged defoliation,” said Corondi.
The Berks County Conservation District plans to participate in the 2017 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program.
According to a release, Berks Conservation is accepting applications from residents and community associations who would like to be considered for gypsy moth spraying, a state program run by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) with cooperation from Berks County.
“State and federal funding for the 2017 gypsy moth program has not yet been announced. Berks County’s program is contingent on receiving this funding for the program,” according to the release.
“The community can come together in certain areas and participate in the suppression program if the area meets the requirements. The DCNR also released a document on what the homeowner can do to reduce gypsy moth damage in their back yard if not participating in the suppression program,” he said.
For more information visit http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20026635.pdf.
“The goal of spraying is not to completely eradicate gypsy moth but to limit defoliation in residential forests to 30 percent,” said Corondi. “The dangers of the spray are generally limited to the applicators due to spraying with the use of aircraft, either fixed wing or helicopter. The pesticide used is called Bacillus thuringlensis(Bt) kurstaki which is considered a biological pesticide. Basically, the gypsy moth caterpillars ingest the Bt and it disrupts their digestive system. Effect on other species is minimal because it requires the caterpillar to eat the leaf of the tree where the spray was applied and there are not many other species that feed on the foliage.”
Corondi noted that this year the qualifying area must include a minimum of 23 continuous acres and will cost $50 per acre.
According to the release, qualifying areas are only forested private residential sites containing trees 25 feet or more in height. When viewed from above, sites must have a least 50 percent of the surface area covered by the crowns of these trees and 20 percent or more of this must be tree species highly favored by gypsy moths.
Areas that do not qualify include residential properties with only scattered ornamental trees and shrubs or any property with trees that are readily accessible to ground spray equipment.
“Also, areas that contain any non-target organisms that would be adversely affected by spraying or areas which are unsafe for aerial spraying because of obstructions or terrain will not be considered,” according to the release.
Berks County Conservation District “strongly encourages residents to speak with neighbors to ensure you meet the spray block size.”
Individual applications must be submitted with a $20 non-refundable application fee. Community applications must be submitted with a $75 non-refundable application fee. Application deadline is Sept. 1, 2016.
“Note that submitting an application and fee only allows your property to be evaluated for the program. It does not guarantee that the property will be included in the program,” according to the release.
Applications are available online at www.berkscd.com, or they can be picked up at Berks County Conservation District, 1238 County Welfare Road, Suite 200, Leesport, PA 19533.
For more information about the gypsy moth, visit http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/insectsdisease/gypsymoth/index.htm.
