Announcements

• Treatment plans for 2007
• 2006 Trapping program results.

General Information

The Ministry of Forests and Range (MOFR) 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 MOFR'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 19 years they have been used. There have been no moth infestations 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.

Health Links

1. South Fraser Valley Health Region Btk Q & As (pdf, 51 k, posted May 3, 2001)
2. Vancouver Island Health Authority's  Health Surveillance Study Report -  Acrobat version of this report released in Mid-January, 2000.   | Chinese Language Version of news release (pdf only)
3. BC Health Guide BC Health File #90 - Gypsy Moth Spraying 

Site Contents

Background Information on the Gypsy Moth and Btk

• Gypsy Moth Frequently Asked Questions
• Fact Sheets on gypsy moth, Btk, Garry Oak (Gypsy Moth Facts in Chinese Language version)
• More information on  Btk  - impact studies, registration, permits, other links
• Gypsy moth biology
• Caterpillars that can be mistaken for gypsy moth posted April 3, 2000
• History of infestations in B.C.
• Links to other gypsy moth web sites
• Public involvement

Management

• Management options
  • Regulation - link to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency D-Memo 98-09
    • Current Regulated Area in B.C. - removed, August 2002
  • Eradication Strategy
  • Detection
    • Monitoring Gypsy Moth in B.C.
    • Trapping Data
  • Selecting a Treatment
    • Treatment History
    • Aerial Spraying
      • Detailed information on aerial spraying
      • Aerial Spraying FAQs
    • Ground Spraying
    • Alternatives Treatments - (mass trapping, tree banding, biological controls, egg mass removal, host removal, no treatment)

Communication

• Current status of spray operations
• News releases
• Subscribe to the Gypsy Moth Listserver for e-mail updates

Contact Tim Ebata if you have comments on the presentation of this information.

BC Ministry of Forests and Range
Forest Practices Branch
P.O. Box 9513 Stn. Prov. Gov.
Victoria, BC
V8W 9C2

Section phone: (250) 387-8739
Section fax: (250) 387-2136

You are visitor number since November 27, 2000

Last updated December 15, 2006