SPONGY MOTH AERIAL TREATMENT TO BE BEGIN THURSDAY, JUNE 22
From the Illinois Department of Agriculture:
The Illinois Department of Agriculture would like to remind northern Illinois residents that the state’s scheduled Spongy Moth treatment will begin the morning of Thursday, June 22 for Chicagoland suburbs. Please see the below map for the area of North Aurora that will be receiving this treatment.Spongy Moth is a non-native pest. Large populations of the pest are capable of stripping plants bare, leaving them susceptible to disease and environmental stressors. Severe defoliation can cause tree death. Unlike the emerald ash borer, another non-native pest which feeds exclusively on ash trees, the Spongy Moth is not a picky eater. It will devour almost anything leafy and green as it feeds on over 250 species of plants, but especially prefers oak and willow trees.
The Department, in conjunction with the United States Forest Service and The Slow the Spread Foundation, plans to treat more than 32,000 acres this year, including locations in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Stephenson, Ogle, and Will Counties.
If weather permits on Thursday, identified locations will receive a pheromone application of Splat – GM Organic. The pheromone application serves as a sexual attractant that confuses male Spongy Moths and prevents them from breeding. This is an aerial application using yellow fixed wing airplanes. The product used is an organic, biodegradable material made entirely of food grade materials. It does not impact other insects, mammals, or the environment.
Our DeKalb Office can be contacted at 815-787-5476. Spongy Moth specialists will be in the field for the spray program as it occurs. Maps of the treatment sites, product labels, and frequently asked questions on Splat are posted on the program’s website at https://www.slowthespread.org/pages/illinois-outreach and live updates will be available at the Facebook page of: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lymantria-dispar-AKA-Spongy-Moth-in-Illinois/100080984078649/
