The St. Clair County Spongy Moth Suppression Program has scheduled the application of a biological control agent by airplane mid-May. Exact treatment dates will be determined based on the weather and the development of Spongy Moth caterpillars this spring.
The biological control agent Btk, or Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, will be sprayed from an airplane flying low above the treetops on over 5,100 acres in the county. You can see a map of the locations that will be treated here: www.stclaircounty.org/caterpillars
The county will spray when average wind speeds are less than 10 miles per hour and relative humidity is more than 50%, and they will release exact dates for spraying when they are determined.
The biological control agent being used to suppress spongy moths is a water-based insecticide used in certified organic food productions. It has low impact on humans, pets, birds, fish, and other insects, and it will only affect caterpillars that are feeding on tree canopies when it’s applied.
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand.
