TRENTON — The state Department of Agriculture July 15 released the gypsy moth aerial defoliation survey, which showed that trees throughout New Jersey had significantly less leaf loss that the previous year, but the same survey showed an increase in defoliation in Cape May County.
Statewide, the survey revealed 91,890 acres of trees with some level of leaf loss in the state this year, as compared with 339,240 acres last year. According to a release, it was the first time since 2003 that damage from the caterpillars had decreased.
In this county, however, the area of defoliation increased from 2,056 acres in 2008 to 2,246 acres this year.
Specifically, the acreage of leaf loss in 2008 was: Woodbine, 32; Dennis Township, 280; Lower Township, 66; Middle Township, 618; and Upper Township, 1,060. In 2009, it was: Dennis Township, 288; Lower Township, 65; Middle Township, 1,723; and Upper Township, 170.
“The gypsy moth population reached its peak in 2008 and through a combination of regular life cycle drop-off, beneficial fungus and natural predator increases combined with our aggressive spray program, we are pleased to see a downturn,” said Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher.
“Any amount of tree damage by these destructive caterpillars is significant, so the Department of Agriculture will continue to closely monitor, survey and spray, where necessary, to control the spread of the gypsy moth in the future.”
According to the release, the 2009 Gypsy Moth Aerial Spray program included 15 counties, 55 municipalities and 11 agencies with spraying on 35,816 acres of wooded residential and parkland as well as wooded areas along the Garden State Parkway.
This year, the United States Forest Service provided nearly $1.5 million in cost reimbursement funds to municipalities participating the program, or approximately 23 percent of the amount paid by the towns for the service.
“The main goal of the Department’s gypsy moth suppression program is to prevent the loss of trees and protect our forests, which are important wildlife habitats as well as filters for the air we breathe,” said Fisher, a former assemblyman from South Jersey.
“We will continue to work cooperatively with the state DEP, the U.S. Forest Service and New Jersey’s congressional delegation to ensure this program is available to assist towns experiencing problems with gypsy moth caterpillars.”
The state will be conducting gypsy moth egg mass surveys over the next several months and those municipalities with high enough concentrations of egg masses will be eligible for the voluntary program.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
