Gypsy month control coming later this month from DATCP

Starting in late June the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will begin another round of aerial treatments to control gypsy moth in Trempealeau County. 

Phase two targets adult male moths, whereas phase one earlier this spring targeted gypsy moth caterpillars. In addition to Trempealeau County, residents in the following counties can expect loud, low-flying, yellow planes as early as 7 a.m. through mid-July: Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Crawford, Douglas, Dunn, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Polk, Rusk and Washburn. Efforts in these counties will focus on where gypsy moth populations are low or beginning to build, to slow them from spreading further west.

Planes contracted by the U.S. Forest Service in a joint project with DATCP will apply an organic, biodegradable mating disruptor to 31 sites in the counties in the western third of the state. DATCP will start in southwestern Wisconsin and end in the northwestern part of the state in mid-July. 

Maps of treatment areas are available at https://datcpgis.wi.gov/maps/?viewer=gm. 

Dates and times are weather dependent. To receive up-to-date information on treatment plans during the spray season, you can do any of the following:

• Sign-up for email updates

• Call toll-free at (800) 642-MOTH and press 1 to listen to a recorded message of the days’ plans 

• Visit https://www.facebook.com/widatcp and https://twitter.com/widatcp for daily updates

Mating Disruptor Information

The mating disruptor is a pheromone that female moths release to attract males for mating. When applied to a large area, it prevents male moths from finding a female. The mating disruptor is in the form of small waxy droplets that slowly release the pheromone. Research shows that applying the mating disruptor to the forest canopy can reduce gypsy moth populations by nearly 90% in the subsequent year. The scent that is released is specific to male gypsy moths and will not interfere with the life cycle of other insects. The mating disruptor is not harmful to people, animals, birds, or other insects. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there is no health risk to humans nor have any adverse effects been reported in the two decades that the pheromone has been used for gypsy moth control.

Gypsy Moth Impact

The gypsy moth has harmful effects on local communities. The cost of removing dead trees can range from hundreds to over a thousand dollars and the loss of mature trees decreases property value. Caterpillars also shed bristly skin that can irritate people’s eyes, skin, and respiratory system.

For more information about gypsy moth treatments, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/GMAerialSpray.aspx.