By MAYA RAO Staff Writer, 609-272-7221 (Published: February 6, 2008)
The state Department of Agriculture has abruptly pulled a type of treatment that it has claimed would more effectively curb the anticipated infestation of gypsy moth caterpillars this spring, even as it prepares for one of the worst seasons in years, a department official confirmed Tuesday.
An e-mail this week to dozens of municipalities across New Jersey said that the agriculture department would not provide a double application of the insecticide bacillus thuringiensis, known as Bt, because obtaining enough aircraft needed for the aerial spraying was logistically impossible.
The state acknowledged as recently as last month that more than three-quarters of the 112,500 acres it was recommending for such treatment receive a second application. Numerous municipalities sent notice to the state within the last month that they had voted to accept those recommendations.
Each application of Bt reduces the gypsy moth population by 65 percent, according to the agriculture department. The second application of the bacteria, which causes the caterpillars to die after stopping them from eating, is typically sprayed five to seven days after the first.
"Some are concerned that ... the job is not going to be good as it could be, but they have to understand there's not that many planes, there's not that many pilots, and there's not that much we can do," said Joseph Zoltowski, who authored the e-mail and heads the program for the agriculture department.
Last fall, state officials took surveys in various towns to determine, among other things, whether the gypsy moth populations in certain areas merited a double or single application of the insecticide. An area that has 520 egg masses - these pump out 400 caterpillars each - per acre qualifies for a single application; areas with more than 4,000 egg masses per acre warrant a double application, Zoltowski said.
Many municipalities last year opted out of the state program, which is partly funded by federal dollars, but the number of participants for this year has shot up to nearly 100. That has made it impossible for the state to offer the double application it did last year, according to Zoltowski.
Zoltowski described this year's $9 million gypsy moth suppression program as the largest in more than 20 years, with the infestation having "exploded ... to just astronomical levels." He said that gypsy moths have ravaged many other East Coast states, which has made the act of procuring spraying services more competitive.
Galloway Township last year was the hardest hit municipality in Atlantic County, and recently authorized the spraying this year of 2,941 acres - 685 of them with a double application of Bt.
If the state has found "Bt to be effective in double spraying, I think that's what they should do if their intent is to reduce the devastation," said Jill Gougher, the township manager and chief financial officer.
"I understand their dilemma," she added, "but it doesn't help my residents any."
"We're disappointed. ... We had last year, 2007, a single application and we had numerous complaints well into gypsy moth season," said James Alexis, the administrator for Middle Township. "It was effective, but the density of the caterpillars outlasted the length of time that the Bt would be effective, and I think that has compounded our problem."
A month ago, the township approved the spraying of 2,697 acres - 1,841 of which would receive a double application of Bt, according to Alexis.
That's a small percentage when compared with Egg Harbor Township, which approved for double application nearly 90 percent of the 1,581 acres it is setting aside for spraying.
"The issue of the single application is that it cuts down on the effectiveness," said Township Deputy Administrator Dale Goodreau. "You're only hitting one hatching of the gypsy moth instead of catching a second hatching a week later, so the overall effectiveness is going to be reduced."
To be sure, double applications are sometimes not especially effective because concentrations of egg masses vary - and places where they are particularly high may still see a large number of caterpillars after a double application of Bt, according to Zoltowski.
Fulfilling its recommendations would require the state to accommodate for the spraying of nearly 200,000 acres - if the 80,000 of those slated for a double application of Bt are counted twice. That's more than double last year's amount, which was about 60,000 acres when those treated for double application are counted twice, according to Zoltowski.
New Jersey could lose up to 45,000 acres of trees to gypsy moths this year if they are not successfully controlled, the state said last month.
This is disturbing news for Hammonton. Although the lack of a second aerial spray will certainly save our town some money, it will also reduce the overall effectiveness of the program.
Maybe Vitalo can get it done, god if you listen to him he's got it all done in the first months on council. Now he's for low income housing, god how much longer does he have? hope the GOP tells him he's got to GO! From dirty underwear, to the spedo, and other off the wall comments he's made he's made a fool out of this town. Please don't let him have any other committees because he has done enough already.
