You loved the Gypsy Moth Chopper this morning (Tuesday, May 28, 2013) so the city is bringing it back. Yes. The twin-engined whirlybird will return to Moore Park early Friday, May 31, 2013. It is equipped with an ultra-low-volume spray system and flies about 15 to 30 metres above the tree tops during the application of the pesticide spray Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki (or btk). The city release says: The gypsy moth is a defoliating insect that is considered a major pest in North America. The caterpillar, or larvae stage of the insect, eats the leaves of trees, making the trees more susceptible to disease and damage from other insects or weather related factors. Btk does not affect adult moths and butterflies, other insects, honeybees, fish, birds or mammals. It kills young caterpillars that are present at the time of spray. Through aerial spraying, Btk will be applied to the foliage of the trees and the caterpillars must feed on the treated leaves for it to be effective. .
