Aerial spray program to reduce gypsy moths starts late May

An aerial spray program is coming for the gypsy moths starting late May, after the City of Hamilton approved a vendor on Wednesday night's council meeting.

The program will run until early June, whena biopesticide will be sprayed in parts of west Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas and Flamborough. The city says the pesticide does not harm humans, pets, other animals and bees.

In fall 2017, forestry crews with the city saw that gypsy moth populations have grown to "require control." However, while the spray will control the numbers, it will not eradicate the species from the area.

The cityhas budgeted $2.5 million to fight gypsy moth infestations, with roughly $1,950,000 used to do the spraying this year.

The gypsy moth is considered an invasive species in Ontario, introduced in the 1960s. The caterpillar will chew through leaves of a tree and can defoliate forests in a very short time.

Gypsy moth caterpillars feed on tree leaves, which usually happens in the spring. Feeding is expected to finish by July.