North Surrey to be sprayed for gypsy moth outbreak
Small low-flying planes could soon be spraying a biological insecticide over a 46.5-hectare residential area of north Surrey to combat the latest outbreak of an introduced pest, the gypsy moth.
The province says Btk bacteria contained within Foray 48B is commonly found in soil and is harmful to caterpillars but not to bees, reptiles, amphibians or mammals, including humans, but also warns it may potentially cause minor irritation to the eyes, ears, nose and throat.
To reduce the risk of such irritation, residents can remain indoors for an hour with the doors and windows closed once notified of the times that spraying will occur, and avoid walking on grass or handling sprayed vegetation for four hours.
The province says that gypsy moths threaten to cause extensive damage to commercial crops, including fruit, hazelnuts and blueberries, and that trading partners may set quarantine and trade restrictions for products, including Christmas trees and logs with bark.
The European gypsy moth was introduced from Europe to the northeastern U.S. in 1869. The North American strain of the moth was first seen in B.C. in 1978.
The latest proposed spray area is located south of Highway 17 next to the Highway 1 freeway in the southwest Fraser Heights community.
Residents are invited to an open house to learn more about the gypsy moth spray program on April 5 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Erma Stephenson Elementary School gymnasium, 10929-160 St., Surrey. Also visit www.gov.bc.ca/ gypsymoth or call toll-free at 1-866-917-5999.