~ Press release issued by the U.S. Forest Service
EDINBURG — The George Washington-Jefferson National Forest in partnership with the Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Emergency Services, West Virginia Department of Forest Health, local counties, and the The Nature Conservancy [conducted] aerial suppression treatments of non-native spongy moth caterpillars across sections of the Lee and North River Ranger Districts between May 12-18.
Aerial applications are funded from the American Relief Act. Areas previously defoliated by spongy moths were further stressed by wind impacts from Hurricane Helene, and these treatments aim to strengthen forest health.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service [used] a naturally occurring bacteria — Bacillus thuringiensis var Kustaki, or BtK — as an aerial pesticide. BtK is widespread in natural ecosystems and is not harmful to humans, pets, plants, or most beneficial insects. The spray does not cause harm to painted surfaces and can be removed with soap and water.
Approximately 20,000 acres [was] sprayed from a specialized helicopter to help minimize spongy moth spread onto adjacent lands. These suppression goals will not eliminiate spongy moths from the George Washington-Jefferson National Forest completely, but it will minimize their impacts in targeted infestation areas.
Treatment areas were chosen based on USFS egg mass population surveys during the fall of 2023 and aerial defoliation mapping conducted by the Virginia Department of Forestry in June 2023.
For more information, contact the North River Ranger District at 540-432-0187,
or visit the website at www.fs.usda.gov/gwj
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