The City has announced that aerial spraying to control the Gypsy Moth menace to oak trees is likely to begin this weekend. The moth is targeted as a threat to the health of mature oaks that grow in many parts of South Bayview and are especially numerous in Moore Park.
During the aerial spray, two twin-engine helicopters with ultra-low-volume spray systems will fly about 15 to 30 metres above the tree canopy to apply a biological insecticide (described in detail below). The product must be applied directly to tree foliage, as Gypsy Moth caterpillars must feed on the treated leaves for the insecticide to be effective.
Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12 and 15 have been identified for aerial spray as they contain a large portion of the City’s oak trees and exhibit significant gypsy moth egg masses. The first round of aerial spraying for Day 1 areas will take place on Sunday, May 26 between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. and spraying for Day 2 areas will take place on Monday, May 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m., weather permitting. A second round will be applied within days but specific dates have yet to be determined. A map of the designated spray areas which identifies each location’s specific spray date is available at: http://cot-pfr2.maps.arcgis.co
m/apps/webappviewer/index.html ?id=fc89e8cce2324aa98736877c0e ef6fb3. Spraying is weather dependent and will only be initiated in the right conditions. As a result, specific spray dates are chosen 48 hours in advance and can be cancelled if weather conditions change. Residents within the affected spray zones are encouraged to check for and subscribe to updates on the City’s website at http://www.toronto.ca/gypsymot
h or call 311. Previously, the City has controlled gypsy moth caterpillar populations by using integrated pest management measures including tree banding and injections as well as egg scraping. However, those methods alone will not effectively control or reduce the population in the identified high-risk areas.
