Pennsylvania Game Commission to spray for spongy moth across 123K acres of game lands
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) announced plans for a near statewide effort to control the spongy moth, an invasive insect.
In a press release, PGC Chief Forester Paul Weiss described the moth, formerly known as the gypsy moth, as “a destructive, invasive pest.”
PGC plans to spray over 123,000 acres of state game lands in nearly every region of the state except the northwest.
“Oaks are the main target of spongy moths, and they also provide the best and most reliable wildlife foods,” Weiss said. “Unfortunately, in some areas, we have seen birch and maple replace the oak stands lost to past spongy-moth defoliation.”
“This loss of acorn availability across such a potentially large area can have extremely detrimental impacts on wildlife populations ranging from chipmunks and squirrels all the way up to deer and bears,” Weiss added.
Hunters participating in the spring gobbler season, as well as others using game lands, could see aircraft spraying the woodlands. PGC says they use the insecticide Mimic 2LV, which is “generally considered safe to humans.”
Some lands set to be sprayed include Game Lands 210, 211, and 264 in the Lykens and Peters Mountain areas of Dauphin County, and PGC says such lands have growing populations of the moth.
More information on the spongy moths and planned spraying can be found on PGC’s website here.
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