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Aerial Spraying for Gypsy Moth

This morning I saw a helicopter flying low over the site of Penn State’s new Arboretum. Seeing the booms mounted on the aircraft meant only one thing around here – spraying for Gypsy Moth caterpillars. The helicopter was a long way off and moving away from me as it followed careful patterns to cover the forested areas of campus. The helicopter was making another pass by the Hosler Oak, a signature tree planting in the site.

Being on foot I never did catch up with the helicopter but judging from the numbers of Gypsy Moth larva I have seen this spring we may be in store for more serious defoliation. At it’s worst stages of infestation I have seen places in June and July that look like winter---not a leaf to be seen.
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Doug C said…
My brother-in-law lives on a few dozen wooded acres in the east part of our county and the gypsy moth larve nearly defoliated everything a couple of years back.

There were millions of them falling like rain from the trees. And when the little buggers land on you while you're walking a path or trail, they bite.
May 14, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Chuck Pefley said…
I'm not generally in favor of pesticides, but then again I'm not in favor of pests, either. A dilemma and difficult choice.
May 16, 2008 at 2:18 AM
Steve Williams said…
doug c: They can be really intense and make a mess of things. They go through a natural cycle and will eventually eat themselves out of house and home so to speak. But the devastation is tremendous.

chuck: Like so many things it is never black and white...
May 17, 2008 at 3:36 PM
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