By Naomi Creason, Sentinel Reporter, September 12, 2008

Last updated: Saturday, September 13, 2008 8:13 AM EDT

Those in the spray area of Cumberland County’s fight against gypsy moths may have seen John Bitner in the neighborhood. The chief of Vector Control and Weights and Measures Office has been traveling the county compiling the data needed to figure out how the area has fared in its battle against the insects.

Bitner just recently announced that from what he has seen and recorded, the spraying has been effective in decreasing the gypsy moth population. Though the cost for the spring suppression is looking like it will be more than this past year, Bitner is still going over the numbers to figure out what is going to be needed, with possible final figures released before the end of the month.

Given how complex the issue of spraying and paying for gypsy moths, Bitner tried to break down the answers for some of The Sentinel’s questions on the matter.

Question: What goes into counting/keeping records of gypsy moths?

Bitner: Over 350 residents requested a survey of their property by the Vector Control Office.

• Surveys [were] conducted Aug. 1 through Sept. 15

• Survey field data collection includes using laptop and GIS/GPS technology

• Several additional county offices coordinate functions to generate survey proposals

Spray Block proposals are drawn from the surveyed areas that meet the qualifications:

• Forested residential

• 250 egg masses/acre

• 23 acre minimum area

County provides municipalities on Oct. 1 the Spray Block Proposals within their boundaries. Municipalities fund a portion ($21/acre) of the total cost of spraying from municipal sources or property owners within each block are asked for funding by the municipality

Final Spray Block Proposals are sent to Department of Conservation of Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry Nov. 1. The Bureau of Forestry gathers all county proposals and plans and manages the statewide proposal.

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Question: Can you see the effects of spraying already?

Bitner: Within 5-7 days after spraying, caterpillar mortality occurs.

• Property damage and the nuisance of caterpillars and their excrement ends

• Tree foliage growth continues

• 0 to 30% loss of foliage -- little effect on the health of trees

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Question: Are we looking at the same kind of spraying for next year?

Bitner: For 2009, proposed acreage for spraying will be less than 9,000 acres compared to just over 14,000 acres sprayed in 2008.

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Question: What will happen to those municipalities who did not join in on the spraying?

Bitner: In Municipalities not joining in the proposals, residents will experience:

• Heavy defoliation of 51% or more of the foliage removed from trees*

• Tree mortality may result from one year’s defoliation to hemlock, pine, and spruce*

• Deciduous trees with two or more successive years of defoliation may result in moderate to high mortality*

• Property Damage from caterpillars and their excrement

• Health concerns and nuisance of caterpillars and their excrement

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Question: Did you get to talk to a lot of the residents much while gathering information?

Bitner: Generally on a given day we interact with 8-10 people while conducting our survey work

For some of his information, Bitner sourced Penn State Entomological Notes from December 2000.