Next Round of Gypsy Moth Spraying Delayed to Wednesday, May 20, in Aurora
The Illinois Department of Agriculture has postponed the second aerial treatment for gypsy moths originally scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19. Due to expected high winds, IDOA has rescheduled the treatment for Wednesday, May 20 beginning at approximately 5 a.m. Again, this will be weather dependent.
The first treatment was made on Wednesday, May 13. This second application is necessary to ensure sufficient timing coverage as the product has a short effective period of about one week, and the recently hatched caterpillars are being targeted before they grow too large, cause significant damage, and become more difficult to control.
Maps of the treatment sites are posted on the IDOA website at http://www.agr.state.il.us/
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
The Illinois Department of Agriculture and city of Aurora report that the second application of the state’s Gypsy Moth Treatment Program is set to begin at 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 19.
The gypsy moth is a non-native pest that feasts on more than 250 species of trees and shrubs, but its preferred food source is oak leaves. Large populations are capable of stripping plants bare, leaving them vulnerable to secondary insect and disease attacks, additionally rendering outdoor living spaces unusable as while they feed, their waste falls covering decks, patios, and furniture. Severe or repeated defoliation also can cause tree death.
This month, IDOA plans to treat a 1,623 acre site in Kane and DuPage counties.
The first application of Btk was made on Wednesday, May 13. The 5 a.m. start time is deliberate as winds are usually more favorable earlier in the day before the air and ground warm up, and fewer people are outside in the early hours.
This second application is necessary to ensure sufficient timing coverage as the product has a short effective period of about one week, and the recently hatched caterpillars are being targeted before they grow too large, cause significant damage, and become more difficult to control. Maps of the treatment sites are posted on the IDOA website.
After jointly reviewing the public notification process that occurred in advance of the treatment application for Gypsy Moths on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Aurora, the Department of Agriculture and the City of Aurora have identified areas of improvement and are working together to ensure interested residents have access to timely and accurate information of any future treatment applications.
The Department of Agriculture has extensive information on the Gypsy Moth treatment program available through its website. Residents can also choose to follow this Facebook page for real-time updates.
City of Aurora residents may also access information on the Gypsy Month treatment program through Aurora’s website. Residents wishing to receive direct notification of future treatment dates in Aurora are encouraged to sign up for the city’s E-News Service by clicking here.
ABOUT THE CITY OF AURORA
Located 35 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois with a population of 199,672. Aurora is known as the “City of Lights” because it was one of the first in the nation to illuminate its streets with electric lights. Situated along the Fox River and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88), the city extends 46 square miles encompassing Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties. Aurora also is home to six public school districts and seven townships. For the latest news, access to an archive of past news releases or to follow the city on Facebook or Twitter, visit the city’s website at www.aurora-il.org.
