FITCHBURG, Wis. —   Contractors working with the Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection will start the 2015 Gypsy Moth spraying season on May 12 in areas of Rock, Green and Lafayette counties, weather permitting.

WHAT: Gypsy moth aerial spraying by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Suppression Program and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread (STS) Program.

• The Suppression Program will treat one 41-acre site in Rock County this year.
• The STS aerial treatment program for 2015 consists of 101 sites, involving approximately 224,000 acres in 21 counties, mostly in western Wisconsin.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 12, weather permitting.

WHERE: Select sites in Rock, Green and Lafayette counties. Maps of spray sites can be viewed online at http://gypsymoth.wi.gov

WHY: The spraying is necessary to control the spread of gypsy moth, a destructive and invasive pest that feeds on the leaves of oaks, maples, crabapple, birch and many other species of trees and shrubs.

PLAN DETAILS: Gypsy moth spray season will kick off with aerial treatments Tuesday, May 12 as follows:

• 12 STS spray sites in Rock, Green and Lafayette counties.
• One Suppression spray site in Rock County.

TREATMENTS: Planes will apply Foray 48B, which is approved for use in certified organic production or food processing by the Organic Materials Review Institute. The insecticide contains Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki or Btk. Btk is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that is poisonous to gypsy moth caterpillars when consumed. Btk breaks down in sunlight within a few days.

OTHER DETAILS: Spraying can start as early as sunrise and continue until the day’s spray plan is complete and as weather conditions allow. Spraying requires calm winds, high humidity and no precipitation.

The planes will fly low, just above the tree tops. They will be loud.

Spraying does not affect organic certification.

The insecticide is not toxic to people, bees, animals, birds and plants.

People who have allergies may wish to stay indoors or leave the area until spraying is done. Pets or livestock may be frightened by the noise of the low-flying planes, so keep them indoors or keep a close eye on them.

Most STS Program sites will receive a second treatment of Btk about three to seven days after the first application.

Feel free to share this information with others.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Spray updates will be available as a recorded message on the toll-free hotline 1-800-642-6684, press 1. You also can get instant updates by connecting with us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/widatcp) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/widatcp). You can also send an e-mail to gypsymoth@wisconsin.gov.