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State gypsy moth treatments to begin soon in Seattle, Bellevue

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) will conduct its first gypsy moth treatments at two King County sites as early as April 20 in Bellevue and April 25 in Seattle, the agency announced today. Locations to be treated are a site of approximately 100 acres in the Madison area of Seattle and a 5.5-acre site in the Rosemont neighborhood in Bellevue.

State entomologists have concluded reproducing populations of the gypsy moth are present at both sites. Five moths were caught in Madison area, the third straight year multiple moths were caught there. Two moths were caught in Rosemont, and two pupal cases were also detected.

Boundaries of the Madison site are 21st Ave. E., Martin Luther King Jr. Way, E. Republican St., and E. Howell St. The 5.5-acre Rosemont site is centered on the intersection of 176th Ave. NE and NE 13th St.

Treatments will be applied by aircraft at the Madison site, and with ground equipment at the Rosemont site. Three to five applications will be conducted at both sites, approximately a week apart. The 15-20 minute aerial treatments at Madison will be conducted in early morning and be completed by 7 a.m. The ground treatments in Rosemont will begin in mid morning and be completed by late afternoon.

Gov. Chris Gregoire issued a proclamation of emergency on April 17 authorizing the treatments.

The insecticide to be used is Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), a biological insecticide used in the past to keep the gypsy moth out of Washington. Btk is registered for use in the U.S. by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is found naturally in the environment. Btk-based insecticides are used by many organic farmers and have a proven safety record with people, pets, birds, livestock, fish, and many other insects such as bees.

Persons with human health questions on the treatments should visit the websites of Seattle-King County Public Health (www.metrokc.gov/health/env_hlth/gypsy.htm) and Washington State Department of Health (www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/Pest/egm/default.htm).

The gypsy moth is one of the worst forest pest insects ever brought into the U.S. It attacks more than 500 species of trees and shrubs, causing millions of dollars of environmental and economic damage in the U.S. annually. The moth is permanently established in 19 states in the East and upper Midwest.

The gypsy moth has been detected in Washington state every year since 1977, but permanent populations have not been established because of aggressive trapping and eradication programs. More than 80 eradication treatments have been conducted in the state since the first treatment in 1979. In the summer of 2005, 31 gypsy moths were caught at 15 sites statewide.

“We’ve kept permanent populations of the moth out of the state since we first detected the pest,” said Jim Marra, managing entomologist with WSDA. “We want that record to continue.”

Residents in the proposed treatment zones have been notified in writing of the treatments and encouraged to call the WSDA toll-free hotline (1-800-443-6684) and put their name on a list of persons to be called the day before each treatment. Two mailings of more 3,500 direct mail pieces were sent to residences in or near the Madison treatment area. In addition, WSDA personally informed 23 support organizations in the Madison area of the upcoming treatments. Community open houses were held in Madison in October and February, and in Rosemont in February.

For more information on the treatments, call the WSDA toll-free hotline (1-800-443-6684) or see the WSDA Web site at www.agr.wa.gov/PlantsInsects and click on “Gypsy Moth.”
 

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