Source: NCDA&CS, 3/31/17

 The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will soon start treating a gypsy moth infestation on 750 acres on Hatteras Island near Buxton Woods. Treatment is expected to start on or around April 11, depending on weather conditions and insect development.

Three fine-mist applications of the biological pesticide Gypchek will be made five to seven days apart using a low-flying helicopter. Gypchek is a naturally occurring virus that is not harmful to humans, plants or animals, affecting only gypsy moth caterpillars.

Field monitoring activities conducted by NCDA&CS last year determined that a reproducing population of the highly destructive gypsy moth exists on the island. The area is on the west side of Buxton, with N.C. 12 running through the northern side of the block and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to the south. Treatment activities will protect trees and shrubs in the vicinity of Buxton Woods, preserving this outstanding, unique ecosystem.

Gypsy moths feed on the leaves of more than 300 different species of trees and shrubs, predominantly oaks and hardwoods. When areas become heavily infested, trees may be completely stripped of foliage, leaving yard trees and entire forests more susceptible to attacks from other pests. Severe infestations often lead to tree death. Gypsy moth caterpillars can also pose public health concerns for people with respiratory problems. In areas with high-density gypsy moth populations, the caterpillar hairs and droppings may cause severe allergic reactions.

NCDA&CS has addressed spot introductions of the gypsy moth across North Carolina since the 1970s. The treatment will be done in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.

A public hearing was held in February to discuss this infestation and receive input from all stakeholders about treatment options.
For more information, including maps and a description of the proposed treatment area, go to www.ncagr.com/gypsymoth or contact NCDA&CS toll free at 800-206-9333. More immediate updates, including spray start dates, will be posted on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NCAgriculture.