FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, July 6, 2010

CONTACT: 
Margaret Hart, Communications Coordinator
651.201.6131, Margaret.hart@state.mn.us

MDA officials set to combat gypsy moth infestation in St. Louis and Lake Counties   

Treatment planned to begin on Saturday, July 10

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will be treating 98,000 acres in St. Louis and Lake Counties this upcoming weekend in an effort to control gypsy moth infestations. The treatments will start Saturday, July 10 and should be completed by Monday, July 12, weather permitting.

While MDA conducted successful treatments last year in Cook and Lake Counties, evidence of new infestations were found in adjacent areas by MDA staff. The 2010 treatment effort is divided into two treatment blocks located near Knife River and Legler Lake. These treatments are part of a national "Slow the Spread" project, which seeks to reduce the populations of gypsy moths infesting America's forests.

MDA will use a method of "mating disruption" involving an aerial application of a synthetic pheromone that confuses male gypsy moths so they are unable to find females for mating. Application is timed just as the moths emerge as adults in mid-summer. Mating disruption is effective and has been widely used in gypsy moth management in other states. These efforts protect forest health, local property values, and the state's vital tourism industry. The treatment is not harmful to humans and will not impact resident or visitor recreation activities at area parks, forests, and lakes. People may go about normal outdoor activities during the application.

Working with the MDA, the Superior National Forest and the U.S. Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry completed an environmental assessment that examined potential environmental impacts of proposed actions to slow the gypsy moth's spread in the area. Based on the analysis and public comments, officials determined that mating disruption is the best treatment option for 2010 in the affected sections along the North Shore.

Gypsy moth is a destructive tree pest that has caused millions of dollars in damage to forests as it has spread west from New England. MDA maintains a statewide monitoring program to watch for start-up infestations, and when an infestation is found, officials move in to control the pests before they can spread. Since 1980, MDA has eliminated more than 65 gypsy moth infestations around the state.

MDA's Arrest the Pest Hotline (888-545-MOTH) offers the latest treatment details to help people stay informed. MDA's website also has helpful information, including a map of the treatment blocks and a link to the Environmental Assessment completed for the project. MDA's gypsy moth web page is available at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/gmunit.aspx. 

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