Gypsy Moth Treatment Program Coming To Oswego: IL Dept. Of Agri.

From the Village of Oswego and the Illinois Department of Agriculture:

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will hold an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday, March 2, at the Oswego Public Library's downtown branch, 32 Jefferson Street, to explain the proposed gypsy moth treatment plans for northern Illinois. The gypsy moth is a non-native pest that feasts on more than 250 species of trees and shrubs, but its preferred food source is oak leaves. Large populations are capable of stripping plants bare, leaving them vulnerable to secondary insect and disease attacks. Severe defoliation can also cause tree death.

Infested sites will be treated with applications of either BtK (Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki), a naturally-occurring bacteria used by gardeners as an environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, or mating disruption (MD), a gypsy moth-specific pheromone that acts as a sexual attractant and prevents male gypsy moths from breeding. BtK is not harmful to people, pets or wildlife.

The BtK product is Valent Foray 48B – Organic which will be applied by helicopter in mid-May, with a second application within two weeks. The mating disruption product, Splat GM-Organic will be applied by airplane in late June.The gypsy month program is funded cooperatively through the U.S. Forest Service, Slow the Spread Foundation and the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Illinois has been involved with the Slow the Spread Foundation since its inception in 2000.

Learn more about gypsy moths from the Illinois Department of Agriculture:

• Follow the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Gypsy Moth Program on Facebook.
• Read more about the gyspy moth on the Illinois Department of Agriculture's gypsy moth website.

Please note: The Village of Oswego does not conduct the gypsy moth control program. This information comes from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and is being passed along as a service to our residents. For additional information, please contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture.