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The Ministry of Forests and Range (MFR) has taken the lead role in managing
infestations of the North American strain of European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) in British Columbia.
The Ministry is working together with the Ministry of Agriculture and
Lands,
Ministry of Environment, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA), the Canadian Forest Service, provincial and local health authorities, and
local governments of communities where gypsy moth have been located.
Gypsy
moths are a threat to B.C.'s ecology and economy. The insect
attacks both natural forests and urban trees, and in 1999 resulted in
the U.S.
threatening to refuse shipments of trees and plants from B.C.’s
nurseries without additional inspection certificates.
The presence of moths in a jurisdiction poses a quarantine
threat and potential trade restrictions for products like Christmas
trees, logs with bark, nursery plants, and challenges on
transportation (trucks may need agricultural inspections).
The MFR's gypsy moth eradication program
provides a site and condition specific treatment response for each
location and uses various levels of mass trapping, ground spraying and
aerial spraying to control this introduced pest. The situation specific
use of these varied techniques has been successful in the 20 years they
have been used. There have been no established moth populations in BC since the
moths were first discovered in 1978.
Ongoing
detection programs and prompt eradication measures conducted by
Canadian and US agencies have prevented this invasive pest from becoming established
in western North America.
Contact Tim Ebata
if you have comments on the presentation of this information.
Section phone: (250) 387-8739
Section fax: (250) 387-2136
BC Ministry of Forests and Range
Forest Practices Branch
P.O. Box 9513 Stn. Prov. Gov.
Victoria, BC
V8W 9C2
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