The voracious, tree destroying gypsy moth is driving people crazy in this region. Some are developing rashes on their skin.
At Quinte West council Monday night rural residents Rob and Jennifer Ganon again told council that gypsy moth caterpillars were a huge problem in the area that had to be dealt with.
“I spray our house continuously and as a house we have piles and piles everywhere. They come down during the day and nest
on our houses and our structures before climbing back up at night to forage on the leaves.”
Jennifer Ganon said people are at wit’s end.
“They’re saying that kids don’t want to go outside anymore, that we need a solution, that people are overwhelmed, massive oak trees having no leaves, people are just crying out for help.”
Sores and rash caused by Gypsy Moths. (Photo: Rob and Jennifer Ganon’s presentation to Quinte West council June 07/21)
The Gypsy Moth infestation is occurring in many areas of rural Quinte West and throughout the Quinte region.
The Ganons suggest Quinte West council follow the Town of Pelham’s lead and pay a contractor to do a survey of the infected areas with an eye to identifying areas that will be most severely affected by the moths (caterpillars) next year and then undertake a targeted spraying program of those particular spots.
Apparently the survey and the targeted aerial spraying program of likely defoliation areas cost Pelham $150,000 last year.
The Ganons agree that a regional spraying program would be best but it didn’t appear that that would happen anytime soon and a more modest local effort would at least slow the infestation down.
According to the Ganons about 7,000 acres of land in Quinte West is being infested and estimate the cost of spraying all of that area at up to $2.5 million.
Gypsy Moth caterpillars on a Quinte West house. (Photo: Rob and Jennifer Ganon’s presentation to Quinte West council June 07/21)
Director of Public Works and Environmental Services Chris Angelo said he would discuss the feasability of a local survey and targeted spraying program with other staff and report back.
Meanwhile Mayor Jim Harrison said he’d been speaking with the Warden of Hastings County Rick Phillips and they plan to get together to make a presentation to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) in August regarding Gypsy Moths in hopes of getting the provincial government to get involved.
“Together we’re stronger and the more area that gets sprayed the less the cost.”
