BC’s Ministry of Forests announced today that they will be conducting another round of aerial spray treatments to try to eradicate spongy moths on Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island.
The Province says this invasive species of moth, also known as Lymantria moths, are detrimental to the delicate ecosystems of Vancouver Island and to all the native species that used to thrive in the region prior to colonization.
In recent years, spongy moths have wreaked havoc in residential areas of Ontario and the eastern United States because the caterpillars defoliate trees when feeding on leaves.
If left untreated, these moths could be a serious threat to urban forests and farms, according to BC.
The pesticide used to get rid of spongy moths is called Foray 48B and is commonly used in organic farming.
The active ingredient, Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (BtK), is naturally present in urban, agricultural and forest soils in the province and is not harmful to humans.
BtK has been approved in Canada to control spongy moth populations since 1961.
The Province says they will spray between late April and mid-June this year to target the emergence of spongy caterpillars.
Spongy caterpillars and butterfly caterpillars will be impacted by the spray only after they have ingested the BtK.
BC plans to treat the following areas in Vancouver Island region:
- North Saanich: 170 hectares (ha)
- Greater Victoria: Gorge-Tillicum: 120 hectares; Esquimalt and Vic West: 31 hectares; Belmont: 430 hectares
- Cowichan Bay: 126 hectares
- Nanaimo: 130 hectares
- Qualicum Beach: 96 hectares
- Salt Spring Island: 48 hectares
The Province says that treatments will take place seven to 10 days apart and may take up to two days to complete.
They will take place in the early morning hours between the day’s first light and 7:30 a.m., weather pending.
