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No gypsy moth spraying in 2010
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By Jason Scott, Sentinel Reporter, October 8, 2009

Last updated: Thursday, October 8, 2009 2:46 PM EDT

Cumberland County municipalities won’t have to worry about budgeting for gypsy moth spraying in 2010.

Based on a survey completed last month by Cumberland County Vector Control, no acreage will be proposed to the state Bureau of Forestry for consideration in next year’s suppression program.

The county conducted 24 survey requests and found that none of the properties met any of the criteria set by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to spray, including having any significant numbers of egg masses that would indicate a future population of caterpillars.

Basic requirements for survey and proposals are:

• Forested residential: Property that is considered woodland and has either a home or seasonal structure;

• 23 acres minimum (smaller, adjacent acreage properties may be combined); and

• A minimum of 250 egg masses per acre.

The lack of egg masses and no proposal for 2010 can be attributed to the effectiveness of the 2009 spray program and various natural environmental factors, including a virus and fungus that also contribute to caterpillar mortality, county officials said.

“It generally takes three to five years of not spraying for re-emergence,” added John Bitner, vector control chief, optimistic that spraying won’t be needed for the next few years.

The county will conduct surveys again next August to determine the need to participate in the state’s 2011 suppression program.

2009 program

This year, 18 counties, including Cumberland, opted to enroll 76,759 private acres in the state spray program. In Cumberland County, 7,178 acres in 14 municipalities were treated this spring — down from more than 14,000 acres in 2008.

Four townships — Hampden, Middlesex, Monroe and Upper Frankford — did not need to be sprayed this year, because egg mass counts were not high enough to be included in the program, according to officials.

Municipalities most in need of treatment included Southampton Township, with the highest amount of acreage at 1,707 acres; Dickinson Township with 1,051 acres; and South Middleton Township with 807 acres.