The Ojai Post

Oh, Evan, I have such mixed reactions about this!

I hate pesticides,too, but I grew up in Central Pennsylvania, which was decimated by gypsy moths -- miles of state forest with dead and dying trees. Truly horrible.

I was reading a while ago (while trying to figure out how to get rid of the bermuda grass in my back yard) of efforts to replenish native species where bermuda grass and other invasives have landed in the coastal areas of CA. The group doing the research/work finally decided that as hideous as it was, Roundup was the best solution -- it killed the bermuda grass once and for all (nothing else would work, as it comes back from the smallest fragments of root -- boy, do I know this! sigh!), and would actually let the native grasses and wildflowers get the breathing space to thrive. They'd spent years trying various solutions, not wanting to use an herbicide, but it was the only thing that worked.

I know that there are a couple of natural methods to keep gypsy moth populations in check, but my understanding is that they work when you've got a population, not when you're trying to eradicate what might be a very small outbreak.

So, while I'm so with you on the no pesticide thing in general, I'm wondering if this isn't a case where as hideous as it is, it may be better than gypsy moths becoming endemic???

Best,
Leigh

In case you missed it, read the Letter in the Wednesday, March 4, Ojai Valley News by George Kalogridis, entitled, "Gypsy moth killer safe, necessary"

(I support the goal of a Pesticide Free Ojai Valley, where possible. The forementioned letter is very important to read and consider.)

Speaking as an organic gardener, member of Pesticide Free Ojai, and lifetime questioner of authority, I think this protest is unwarranted. I use Btk in my own garden as a safe alternative to pesticides for controlling cabbage butterfly larvae. If you don't trust our government, check the link below from the Canadian government. You'll see that Dipel is certified for use on organic farms and the inert ingredients are used in food products in the U.S. and Canada.

Yes, there will be some collateral damage to other butterfly and moth species. Yes, there may be some whose respiratory or immune systems may not like it. They can request their property not be sprayed. When I look at the alternatives -- toxic insecticidal poisons or letting the gypsy moths defoliate our trees -- I'm glad science has developed such alternatives.

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/gypsymoth/Foray.htm

It's great to see that the Ojai City Watch has facilitated in the arrest of so many criminal, hillbilly heroin addicted thieves and vandals over the last couple of weeks. Memo to all parents of dysfunctional youths who are still living at "home" and committing crimes - the law abiding citizens of Ojai are watching. If your kids are prowling around in the early hours of the morning for no apparent reason, they will be reported. G'night.

It's great to see that the Ojai City Watch has facilitated in the arrest of so many criminal, hillbilly heroin addicted thieves and vandals over the last couple of weeks. Memo to all parents of dysfunctional youths who are still living at "home" and committing crimes - the law abiding citizens of Ojai are watching. If your kids are prowling around in the early hours of the morning for no apparent reason, they will be reported. G'night.

What is Btk? How can it be a "safe alternative to pesticides" if it is itself a pesticide?

Btk is a bacterium, Bacillus thuringensis kurstaki. It occurs naturally in the soil and in the digestive systems of some caterpillars. When ingested it attacks the digestive systems of certain caterpillars (the larvae of butterflies and moths). So although it is technically a "pesticide" or 'insecticide," it is harmless to humans and other species.

Here's a quote from the wikipedia entry:

Spores and crystalline insecticidal proteins produced by B. thuringiensis are used as specific insecticides under trade names such as Dipel and Thuricide. Because of their specificity, these pesticides are regarded as environmentally friendly, with little or no effect on humans, wildlife, pollinators, and most other beneficial insects. The Belgian company Plant Genetic Systems was the first company (in 1985) to develop genetically engineered (tobacco) plants with insect tolerance by expressing cry genes from B. thuringiensis.[11][12]

B. thurigiensis-based insecticides are often applied as liquid sprays on crop plants, where the insecticide must be ingested to be effective. It is thought that the solubilized toxins form pores in the midgut epithelium of susceptible larvae. Recent research has suggested that the midgut bacteria of susceptible larvae are required for B. thuringiensis insecticidal activity.[13]

Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis, a strain of B. thuringiensis is widely used as a larvicide against mosquito larvae, where it is also considered an environmentally friendly method of mosquito control.

What a great answer!

So Btk is a bacteria -- a "natural", organic insecticide rather than a chemical one. It does sound like a good solution to the gypsy moth problem. Although the poor caterpillars who die from it when they eat it must get one hell of a stomach ache.

I'm the Lorax. I speak for the trees. Someone else will have to step up and speak for the gypsy moths and their stomach aches.

Thanks Lanny. In case you misunderstood my Comment (#2), from what I know so far, I agree with you. That's why I recommend that people read the letter in the 3/4/09 OVN's, "Gypsy moth killer safe, necessary"

(I readilly admit I'm not an expert on this. I was only trying to say that while I support the long term goals of a Pesticide-Free Ojai Valley, I suggest reading this Letter, whose view you also appear to support, to make an informed decision on this particular issue.)

a letter from "Jeff", via Bob Banner of HopeDance Mag:

Bob,

Forgive my candid feedback and please accept this with the utmost respect. All of my life I have worked in agriculture and in every position I have ever held I have managed to eliminate the use of chemical pesticides while relying on biological controls (ie: natural predators, and organisms that occur naturally in the environment) I have operated large scale production systems including certified organic vegetable farms, and most recently a 12.5 acre tomato greenhouse. Believe me, eliminating chemicals in this environment is extremely difficult and was a huge challenge that I had to take head on.

To my point. I notice that you are promoting a peaceful protest to the application of Dipel for the control of Gypsy Moths. I commend you for your attention to public health and well being. However I would like to point out a discrepancy in your logic. I also notice that you suggest bringing an organic dish for a potluck. I would like to bring to your attention that Dipel is an OMRI listed pest control. This means that it is allowed and used in Certified Organic production. Again I commend you for your attention to public safety but I must point out that by suggesting to bring organic food you are almost guaranteeing that you will be consuming food in which the very product you are protesting was used during its production. Again I apologize if I am being rude but I feel it is necessary to point this fact out to you. Again I am a staunch supporter of organic food and the movement away from chemical pesticides. However I think it may be wise to consider the fact that the department has opted to use an organic product as opposed to an organophosphate which are more commonly used to control Lepidopterans and are extremely toxic to humans as well as all living organisms.

Perhaps you are protesting the use of pesticides in general regardless of their nature. If this is the case I respect your decision and wish you well.

Thank you,

Jeff

Thank you for posting this evan!

evan -- does your comment #11 mean you are withdrawing your protest against the spraying of Btk?

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Evan,

I've done some additional research as to why beneficial insects are not used to parasitize the Gypsy Moth eggs.

I handled some of the Gypsy M eggs, they are encased in a very hard shell, and so far nobody has been able to find a beneficial that can penetrate the shell.

There is a fungus that kills the GM eggs but the USDA has been loath to introduce another non-native to the US.

As of today we are stuck with Bt's

George, your comment about the egg cases brought back memories...

As kids, my sisters and I would travel our neighborhood armed with sticks to scrape off as many egg cases as we could find in an attempt to be our own small anti-gypsy moth force...

They are unbelievably destructive, and when they've really infested, truly gross...

For example, in a heavy infestation, when you walk through the woods it sounds like it's raining because of their droppings.

Or one year we had all sorts of injuries because the caterpillars were so thick on the ground in some areas that people were slipping on them and falling! Think Alfred Hitchkock or other horror movies...

Ewwwwwww!

California really doesn't need to discover what they can do...

Thanks to all of those who brought their knowledge to the conversation about the nature of Dipel.

Best,
Leigh

Have you read this article about Btk spraying in Aukland, New Zealand. Very disturbing…
http://www.geocities.com/grey44nz/moth.htm

Bkt fact sheet:
http://www.pesticide.org/bacillus.pdf

Non-Toxic Alternatives

Non-chemical alternatives exist. They always do. Strangely enough our species managed to survive for centuries without intervention with synthetic chemicals. http://dontspraycalifornia.org/gypsymoth.html

1. Identify and destroy egg sacs. Caterpillars can be trapped on the way up the tree with plain, untreated burlap bands, then picked by hand or vacuum.

7 ft x 7 ft pieces of burlap are available at Aqua Flo Supply, 1940 E. Ojai Ave, Ojai. ph: 646-7244
for about $4/piece.

2. Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Ph: 643-5407

Predators of Gypsy Moth:

Podisus Maculiventris (Spined Soldier Bug),

Lacewing

3. Jim Nichols ~ Hot Water Control ph: 805-492-6345

http://www.nosprayzone.org/natural/index.html

Natural Predators
Vertebrate predators such as birds account for most of the mortality in low density populations, so any disruption of bird habitat, especially food sources, will affect this predation. Other predators are more significant mostly at higher moth densities than we have in Washington. A partial list is:

Entomophaga maimaiga is a fungus that attacks the caterpillars.
Ooencyrtus kuvanae is a wasp that attacks the eggs.
Cotesia melanoscela is another wasp that attacks the pupae.
NPV (a virus) attacks dense populations.
"The generally accepted hypothesis about natural regulation of gypsy moth populations has been that at low densities, the most important mortality factors are vertebrate predators, at medium densities parasitoids are most important (usually Diptera or Hymenoptera), and at high densities, the gypsy moth nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), a baculovirus, is the most frequent agent regulating populations. NPV causes big crashes in the gypsy moth population (=epizootics) and people often tended to wait for these epizootics to control high populations. "
- Ann E. Hajek (Department of Entomology, Cornell University)

This statement can be verified by anyone living in the areas of the eastern US that have been infested with gypsy moth for more than a few decades. In these areas, no lasting damage to plants other than occasional partial defoliation is seen. The gypsy moth populations never reach the extreme peaks seen in the first few years. Most people say they are aware of gypsy moth as an infrequent nuisance but do not describe it as a serious pest.

Boy, Patty, as someone who grew up amongst gypsy moth infestations, I would not determine them as "less than serious pests."

There has been lasting damage to plants -- deciduous hardwood trees generally come back if the moth populations decrease (usually by extensive aerial spraying), but if they are hit heavily more than a year or two in a row, they die.

Hemlocks, which make up a great deal of PA forests, are attacked by the moths only after the hardwoods have been defoliated, but if they get munched, they generally die in the first year. Those that survive are more vulnerable to the wooly adelgid, which is killing many more of them.

"Although it usually takes more than one year of defoliation before trees die, conifers that are defoliated may be killed after a single season of defoliation."
Source: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Forestry/gypsymoth/index.aspx

Just today I was reading an article about ginseng stands in the East that have been damaged by heavy gypsy moth defoliation -- suddenly have far too much sunlight and plants become stressed and die.

And so on.

And the moth populations increase and decrease -- I was visiting family last summer and they had a severe infestation again in Central PA, which has happened regularly over the last 30 years. Again, the populations decrease usually when there is aggressive aerial spraying -- other controls, including fungus and beetles, help, but if the infestation is severe, they can't keep up.

Same is true of burlap on tree trunks, etc. If one tree gets missed, the moth population can erupt.

And I worry about the moths effects on our oaks -- oaks are their favorite meal, and I don't know if CA oaks would be more vulnerable since they are not deciduous.

While I appreciate your concern about any substance that kills being utilized in the Valley, suggesting that gypsy moths are merely an irritant is really inaccurate. This could be a horrendous disaster if they get established in California.

(I've got to admit that I'm not terribly impressed by the Aukland web site you pointed to -- a lot of name calling without a lot of proof, to my eyes. And again, while I'm not generally a fan of any of this stuff, I've survived multiple aerial spraying cycles in my hometown, and there have been no reports of widespread health issues.)

Best,
Leigh