The caterpillar war continues in Pike

Dingman — Between May 18 and May 27, all “spray blocks” in Pike County were sprayed with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to help rid the county of Gypsy moth caterpillars, Susan Beecher said Tuesday. Beecher, district manager of the Pike County Conservation District gave a summary of the agency’s annual report Tuesday, at the Dingman Township Supervisors meeting. As some people object to any spraying, how it works was high on her list. Bt is a biological insecticide, not a chemical, which when sprayed by helicopters or airplanes aircraft sticks to the leaves of the trees. Bt must be ingested by the caterpillar to destroy it. The Gypsy moth caterpillar ingests Bt as it eats away at the leaves of the sprayed trees. Oak, apple, and many other tree and ornamental species are impacted by the voracious moth caterpillars. When Gypsy moth populations peak, the caterpillars may strip trees of foliage, leaving them weak and susceptible to disease, drought and attack by other insects. A tree begins to suffer when 30 percent or more of its leaf surface is lost. If allowed to suffer attack by the Gypsy moth caterpillars for successive years the trees die off. In 2008, 15,000 Pike County acres were sprayed and in 2009 48,000 acres were sprayed. For more about district programs, visit the Web site, www.pikeconservation.org .