St. Clair County has contracted with Friends of the St. Clair River (Friends) to administer the Spongy Moth Suppression Program for the 2021/22 season. St. Clair County is holding three (3) workshops about the sudden and severe spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth) outbreak and management options.
April 5 – Spongy Moth Aerial Spray Program, 6:30pm, St. Clair Township Hall
April 6 – Spongy Moth Aerial Spray Program, 6pm, Clyde Township Hall
April 14 – Spongy Moth Aerial Spray Program, 6:30pm, Columbus Township Hall
The aerial suppression program’s goal is to provide relief to residents to reduce intolerably high populations of spongy moth caterpillars. St. Clair County is paying for 100% of the costs in 2022 associated with this aerial spray treatment. This will not eliminate the pest but will reduce the number of caterpillars, tree defoliation, and improve outdoor recreational activities. At these workshops Friends of the St. Clair River staff will discuss the process for monitoring and reporting caterpillars, provide an overview of the 2022 aerial spray blocks, as well as provide a questions and answer session for citizens.
Friends Environmental Field Technician, Lydia Nicholas, said, “The aerial suppression program uses a biological insecticide called Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT). BT is a naturally occurring bacterium found in the soil and is not harmful to pets, birds, beneficial insects, or humans.”
For more information contact St. Clair County’s Spongy Moth Program at gypsymoth@stclaircounty.org or 810-294-4965 or visit www.stclaircounty.org/caterpillars.
Submitted by Friends of the St. Clair River
