BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WEST MILFORD — The township will continue its fight against gypsy moths this year with aerial spraying in the spring.
Last year, several residents in the Oak Ridge section of town implored the township to participate in the state program to spray for gypsy moths in an effort to save their trees.
The residents, armed with a petition signed by 150 neighbors, described brownish egg masses of the pests on trees, noting that one egg mass has up to 1,000 eggs. One resident said she has hundreds and hundreds of egg masses on trees, rock walls and decks.
The township agreed and 2,292 acres were treated at a cost of $94,000 with a pesticide called bacillus thuringiensis or Bt.
Smaller area in 2017This year, although the number of acres affected is not as many - 1,281 - it is still serious enough that spraying is recommended. A survey done by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture indicated that the gypsy moth populations will be very high during the months of May and June, according to Michael J. Hodges, the township's health officer.
"Leaf feeding by the caterpillars of this pest will cause severe defoliation of many of our trees," said Hodges to the council last week.
The township has entered into a cooperative control program with the state's Department of Agriculture and the United States Forest Service.
The cost this year is higher per acre than it was last year. The cost in 2017 is $52 per acre with a 50 percent refund from the state. The total will be near $67,000, half of which will be reimbursed by the state.
Bt will be sprayedThe pesticide being used is the same as the one last year. Bt is the most commonly used pesticide and is used against other pests, including the western spruce budworm and the tent caterpillar. Bt is registered for aerial and ground application. It is toxic to other moth and butterfly larvae and can be used safely near water.
Bt is a pesticide with a naturally occurring active ingredient to reduce defoliating populations.
According to the University of California San Diego, "Bt has not been shown to have any chronic toxicity or any carcinogenic effects. There are also no indication that Bt causes reproductive effects or birth defects in mammals. Bt breaks down readily in the environment. Because of this, Bt poses no threat to groundwater. Bt also breaks down under the ultraviolet (UV) light of the sun."
Bt is eaten by the caterpillar after it is sprayed on leaves. After ingested, Bt causes the caterpillar to stop eating and within hours, it dies.
When spraying will happenThe most effective way to attack the gypsy moths is from above, according to Hodges. The spray operation will begin sometime after May 15 and continue through June 16 or when completed. No spraying will take place between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. on any day.
Although Bt has very minimal risk to humans and wildlife, those wishing to have no exposure should remain indoors during the treatment period, Hodges said.
The West Milford Health Department will notify residents when the spraying will be done via social media, the internet and local media.
Acres damagedIn 2015, the state had 290,000 total acres damaged by gypsy moths. West Milford, that same year, had 40,000 acres severely damaged by the pests.
What are your thoughts about spraying for the gypsy moths? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and tell us.