GYPSY MOTH SPRAYING CONCLUDED
Cameron, Potter not part of spraying

Much of northcentral Pennsylvania was left out of the state's spraying program to combat defoliation by gypsy moth caterpillars.

Treatment of 42,730 acres of state game lands (SGL) concluded in late May. Closest parcel to the local area to be aerially sprayed was a 5,970- acre section of SGL 176 in Centre County.

The Game Commission paid $1.35 million to spray portions of 38 different game lands.

A study last summer identified defoliation on more than 93,000 acres, said William Capouillez, Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management director.

"To focus this year's spraying efforts, we looked at the importance of oaks, whether there were critical/unique habitats, past gypsy moth impacts

and financial values of timber

stands," he added. Capouillez noted that previous gypsy moth impacts enabled a rapid transition of forest habitat types from mixed oak to birch and ma- ple.

"In the 1940s, after the chestnut blight nearly wiped out American chestnuts, oaks filled the void for wildlife," Capouillez said. "Unfortunately, in some areas, we now are seeing birch and maple replace the oak stands lost to gypsy moth defoliation."

Meanwhile, the Pa. Bureau of Forestry treated about 220,000 acres. There was no spraying in Cameron, Potter of McKean counties. The bureau did treat 2,400 acres in Clinton County.

Treatment was conducted with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacteria that is sprayed on the tree's foliage. Caterpillars ingest the bacteria when they emerge and feed on foliage. Bt only affects leafeating caterpillars that are in the larval stage at the time of spraying.