Image credit: The Canadian Press

By Aaron Schulze

Moth Spraying

Invasive spongy moths target of May spray program in Kamloops

Apr 17, 2024 | 10:11 AM

KAMLOOPS — Portions of Kamloops’ downtown and West End neighbourhoods will be the targets of aerial spray treatments to remove spongy moths.

B.C.’s Ministry of Forests states that an area of 80 hectares within Kamloops will be sprayed on May 6 or 7.

Image credit: B.C. Ministry of Forests

In a news release issued Wednesday (April 17) morning, the province says the sprays to remove spongy moths are meant to minimize the risk to forests, farms, orchards and trees.

“Invasive spongy moths, also known as Lymantria moths, pose a risk to B.C.’s ecosystems and economy,” the Ministry of Forests states. “Spongy moth caterpillars feed on tree leaves and have defoliated sections of forests and residential areas in Ontario and the eastern United States in recent years. Untreated spongy moths risk spreading to other areas of B.C. and are a threat to urban forests and farms.”

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The biological insecticide used for the aerial spray treatment is Foray 48B, which is used in organic farming. The province says the active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki is naturally present in urban, agricultural and forest soils in B.C. The province adds it affects only moth and butterfly caterpillars after they have ingested it.