Tussock Moth Spray Program Completed

The largest spray program ever undertaken to control an insect infestation in the forests of Nova Scotia has been completed.

Under the $6-million program, the biological insecticide B.t.k. was sprayed on 60,000 hectares (150,000 acres) of tussock moth-infested woodland in central and northern Nova Scotia.

"This program will help to bring the population explosion of this devastating insect under control," said Natural Resources Minister Kennie MacAskill. "Our objective was to knock back the moth population by spraying only the areas most severely infested.

"It was never intended to eradicate the tussock moth. The goal was to slow down the rapid population expansion and reduce tree defoliation to acceptable levels. We conducted this program with a limited budget, a limited supply of B.t.k., and weather conditions that often restricted our ability to spray."

Mr. MacAskill said preliminary field checks indicate a mortality rate of 70 to 90 per cent among tussock moth caterpillars in areas sprayed. More detailed and extensive field work will be done in the fall to assess the longer-term effectiveness of the spray program and to determine whether further action will be required next year.

Of the severely infested woodland areas sprayed, 41 per cent was Crown land, 33 per cent was privately owned and 26 per cent was industrial.

A total of 28 aircraft, 19 of which were involved in the actual spraying, operated from airfields at Debert, Trenton and Garden of Eden to carry out the program.

Department of Natural Resources staff organized and supervised the spray program with forest industry representatives from the private sector, aviation contractors, and field staff of the provincial Department of Environment.

"I want to thank everyone involved for their co-operation and support in conducting this major forest protection program," said Mr. MacAskill. "I am especially grateful to the dozens of Natural Resources staff in the forest protection division for their dedication, commitment and tireless efforts to complete this program, often under difficult circumstances."