COLUMBUS, Ohio – Residents of Franklin and Delaware counties who wondered if they were being buzzed by wayward amateur pilots or under surveillance by an intrusive government can rest a little easier.
Airplanes that have been flying near treetop level are part of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s efforts to disrupt the mating of gypsy moths. Aerial treatments on 45,675 acres in Franklin and Delaware counties began Monday.
One of several programs the Agriculture Department operates to protect Ohio trees from the destructive moth, the Slow the Spread program involves spraying a product called Disrupt II from 100-200 feet above the treetops. The product does not kill the moth, but disrupts the mating process by confusing the male as it searches for a female, department communications director Brett Gates said. That slows the movement of the gypsy moth across the state, he said.
The gypsy moth is a non‐native, invasive species that feeds on the leaves of more than 300 trees and shrubs and is especially fond of oak, Gates said. The trees are permanently damaged within two or three years of being defoliated and the moth has infested trees in 51 of the state’s 88 counties.
Gates says the treatments will consist of single applications and will last one or two days. Disrupt II is not harmful to birds, plants, pets or humans, he said.
Daily updates about areas where treatments are planned are available after 5:00 p.m. at 614‐387‐0907 or 800‐282‐1955 ext.37.