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May 31, 2006

DEM warns of gypsy-moth infestations

PROVIDENCE -- The Department of Environmental Management issued a warning today that gypsy moth caterpillar outbreaks have been reported in central Rhode Island and across the East Bay.

"It is likely the caterpillars will spread further," reads today's announcement.

Now is the ideal time to ward off such infestations, said DEM, noting that the state has no plan to deal with the pests, leaving it up to individual residents to arrange for pesticide spraying.

"We are seeing heavy populations of gypsy moths in localized areas, and recommending that residents who want to protect their trees, particularly oaks, from damage, do so now," Catherine Sparks, the acting chief of DEM's Division of Forest Environment, said in a statement.

Although gypsy moth caterpillars prefer oaks, they will attack other trees such as apples, willows, poplars, hawthorns, pines, hemlocks and spruce.

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 5:25 PM | Permalink

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