Public meetings regarding gypsy moth treatments proposed by the Department of Natural Resources to take place in areas of Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, Miami, Porter, Tippecanoe, Wabash and Whitley counties this spring will be held from Jan. 24-Feb. 2 at various locations.
The presence of the invasive gypsy moth, problems associated with infestations, and methods for dealing with the insect will be discussed.
Meeting locations and times are:
For Porter County site names Portage 17, Tanglewood 17, Valparaiso North 17 and Valparaiso South 17:
Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 6 p.m. CST
Porter County Library – Valparaiso Branch
103 Jefferson St., Valparaiso
For Fulton, Kosciusko, Wabash and Miami counties site names Disko MD 17 and Disko Core 17.
Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 6 p.m. EST
Akron Town Hall
206 W. Rochester St., Akron
For Marshall County site name Green TWP 17:
Thursday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. EST
Argos Public Library
142 N. Michigan St., Argos
For Kosciusko County site names Rosella 17 and Harrison TWP 17:
Monday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. EST
Warsaw Public Library
310 E. Main St., Warsaw
For Tippecanoe County site name West Lafayette 17:
Monday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. EST
West Lafayette Public Library
208 W. Columbia St., West Lafayette
For Kosciusko and Whitley counties site name Pierceton 17:
Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 6 p.m. EST
Pierceton Community Building
105 W. Walnut St., Pierceton
For Porter County site names Portage 17, Tanglewood 17, Valparaiso North 17 and Valparaiso South 17:
Thursday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m. CST
Porter County Library – Valparaiso Branch
103 Jefferson St., Valparaiso
While open to anyone, the meetings will be geared toward residents of the sites listed above, which have been identified as having infestations. Maps of infested areas can be viewed at gypsymoth.IN.gov.
At the meetings, personnel from the DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology will propose options for treatment. The representatives also will welcome questions and comments.
Written comments may be submitted to Department of Natural Resources, Attn: Gypsy Moth, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, 402 W. Washington St., Room W290, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, or emailed to: DEPP@dnr.IN.gov. Comments may be submitted through Monday, March 6, by 8 a.m. EST.
Options for dealing with gypsy moths that will be discussed include:
– Taking no action.
– Using mass trapping, which involves setting a large number of traps in a concentrated area to capture male gypsy moths before they have a chance to locate and mate with females.
– Using biological control, which involves the aerial application of the naturally occurring bacteria Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki), which eliminates gypsy moth larvae.
– Using the insect growth regulator Mimic (Tebufenozide), which eliminates gypsy moth larvae.
– Using mating disruption, which involves the aerial application of the gypsy moth mating pheromone (or scent) that confuses male gypsy moths and prevents mating.
– Using integrated pest management, which involves the combined use of the above options.
Those unable to attend one of the public meetings can view the meeting’s slideshow presentation, a series of question-and-answer documents, site maps and further information at gypsymoth.IN.gov.
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