Gypsy Moth Media Kit

Fast Facts

The best resource for information on this topic is Wisconsin Gypsy Moth.

The Pest

Gypsy moth is Native to Europe and Asia. Gypsy moth caterpillars feed on the leaves of up to 500 species of trees and shrubs, favoring oak. Heavy defoliation threatens the trees' health by causing stress and making them more susceptible to damage by other pests, diseases, and extreme weather conditions.

State Programs

At the request of landowners and communities, the DNR's Gypsy Moth Suppression Program [PDF] works with county governments to conduct aerial sprays to reduce high gypsy moth populations so that they do not cause heavy tree defoliation. The Suppression Program works in areas where gypsy moth is well established and quarantined.

The Department of Agriculture's Slow the Spread Program [exit DNR] works in areas where the pest has not yet been established to slow its spread into new areas. In Wisconsin, this is generally the western half of the state.

Airplanes are the most efficient and cost-effective way to apply products to the tree canopy over a large area. Aerial application [PDF] uses less pesticide per acre and is less expensive per acre than ground-based pesticide applications. Professional spray plane pilots are licensed and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. The planes fly low and loud over spray areas. Spraying may begin at dawn and is weather dependent.

Treatments

Btk is a strain of common soil bacterium found naturally. The formulation used in the Suppression Program has been listed with the Organic Materials Review Institute as safe for use in organic food production. Btk only affects certain caterpillar species, breaks down in sunlight within 10 days, is sticky, and is not known to be harmful to humans, pets, wild animals, birds, honeybees, or fish. You may wish to stay indoors and keep your windows closed during a spray if you have severe food allergies or chemical sensitivities.

Gypchek [PDF] is the brand name for Gypsy moth nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV). This virus infects only gypsy moth caterpillars and naturally occurs wherever gypsy moth is present. The Suppression Program sprays it on the leaves instead of Btk where endangered species such as Karner blue butterfly [PDF] exist.

What You Can Do

Aerial spraying is only one step in managing gypsy moth populations [exit DNR] and will not eradicate this pest. When gypsy moth populations are reduced enough to protect trees from heavy defoliation they still may be more numerous than is tolerable or comfortable to property owners. A combination of efforts is critical to effectively manage this pest. Homeowners are encouraged to use several strategies including physical controls [exit DNR], ground based sprays [exit DNR] where populations are extremely high, and spreading the word to neighbors. Do NOT rely on aerial spraying alone. Also, do your best to prevent moving gypsy moth around and into new areas. Keep firewood local and inspect [exit DNR] your outdoor items and vehicles for gypsy moth hitch-hikers before traveling.

Spray Locations and Schedule

Locations

Maps of all of the spray areas (called "spray blocks") are available to download from gypsymoth.wi.gov. Click on the county you are interested in on the blue and yellow Wisconsin map on that webpage. The maps are available as pdf documents and show the areas to be treated as well as what the treatment will be.

Blue counties will be treated by the DNR Suppression Program. Yellow counties will be treated by DATCP's Slow The Spread Program.

Anyone unable to access the internet who would like spray maps mailed to them can request specific maps by calling a staff member through the Gypsy Moth Information Line at 1-800-642-6684 and making the request. Choose menu option # 2 for DNR staff 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., 7 days per week. Choose menu option # 3 for DATCP staff during business hours or leave a message.

Schedule

Correct timing for aerial spraying for gypsy moth depends on a combination of:

• Seasonal weather patterns
• Daily weather conditions
• Gypsy moth caterpillar development
• Tree leaf development and size

Because of all of these factors it is impossible for us to know for certain when we will be spraying a particular area until spray time arrives. However, we do watch forecasts closely and make plans at least one day ahead based on weather predictions, gypsy moth caterpillar and leaf observations.

Staying Up to Date

You can stay updated daily on upcoming spray plans and the locations where spraying has been completed by:

Phone

call the Gypsy Moth Information Line at 1-800-642-6684, option # 1: a recorded message is updated daily during spray season

Email

subscribe to the DNR Gypsy Moth Email Notification List: emails are sent daily during spray season.

Subscribe via gypsymoth.wi.gov by clicking on the DNR Spray Email Sign Up link in the "Who To Contact" box on that webpage. Follow the instructions to subscribe. You may unsubscribe at any time.

The planes

If you are in or near a spray block, be expecting low-flying, loud planes perhaps as early as dawn on spray days in your area. Stay updated on spray activities so you know when to expect to see and hear the planes.

• Gyspy moth spray activities begin as early as dawn and continue throughout the day as weather permits.
• Planes fly low over the spray areas and may be only 100 feet above the ground.
• In 2011 the spray blocks in Milwaukee County will be sprayed by a twin-engine plane as required by the Federal Aviation Administration. These planes are quite loud and colored grey and red.
• All other spray blocks will be sprayed by bright yellow planes similar to those used for crop dusting in agricultural fields.
• Planes will fly over non-treatment areas as they travel between spray blocks. Planes flying over non-treatment areas will NOT spray them.

Outreach Efforts

The Suppression Program faces an enormous challenge of alerting residents about spray activities on an uncertain schedule. The following measures are taken at minimum:

• The Gypsy Moth Information Line at 1-800-642-6684 is updated daily with a recorded spray schedule message (menu option # 1) and is staffed to answer questions (menu option # 2 for DNR and menu option # 3 for DATCP).
• The DNR runs an Email Notification List to update subscribers daily on spray schedules during the 2 - 3 week spray season.
• State wide and local news releases are sent to TV, radio, and print news outlets. These include information about expected spray dates and options for staying updated via the Gypsy Moth Information Line and Email Notification List.
• Counties provide a list of all hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, day cares, schools, churches, cemeteries, airports, helipads, sheriff and police departments, 911 dispatches, and more in or near the spray areas. Specific staff members at these locations are contacted with the information about areas to be sprayed, what will be sprayed, and the options for staying updated via the Gypsy Moth Information Line and Email Notification List.
• An additional mailing is sent to schools in or near spray areas. This mailing includes the same information in a format that the school can make available for students to take home to their parents or include in their newsletters.
• Counties and municipalities are required to hold public meetings in January or February to alert residents of the proposed spray activities.
• Counties and municipalities in the Suppression program may send notice to all property owners within spray treatment areas in January or February.

Contacts

Wisconsin Gypsy Moth is an excellent resource for general information, spray program information, tips and strategies for controlling gypsy moth populations and much more.

Gypsy Moth Information Line 1-800-642-6684

The Gypsy Moth Information Line provides a variety of menus options:

Menu option # 1

A recording of updated spray plans and completed spray activities

Menu option #2

DNR staff knowledgable about gypsy moth and the DNR Suppression Program
7 days per week from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Menu option #3

DATCP staff knowledgeable about gypsy moth and DATCP Slow the Spread Program during business hours or leave a voice mail message

Email

• DNR Gypsy Moth - please allow a few days for a reply

Media Contacts

• Colleen Robinson Klug
  DNR Suppression Program Public Information Officer
  (608) 266-2172
• Nkauj Vang
  DATCP Slow the Spread Program Public Information Officer
  (608) 224-4591

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Issued by DNR Central Office on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 12:00:16 PM

Gypsy moth aerial spraying to start soon
Issued by DNR Central Office on Tuesday, May 03, 2011 at 11:22:44 AM

Watch out for gypsy moth – and act soon
Issued by DNR Central Office on Tuesday, April 05, 2011 at 12:08:28 PM

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