| Protecting Eugene from the gypsy moth |
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| B.t.k. facts |
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- B.t.k. is a naturally occurring soil bacterium
- B.t.k. is approved for organic agriculture by Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), Eugene, Oregon
- Some the inert ingredients in Foray® 48B are FDA approved for use in foods or in food processing and none of the inert ingredients are on the EPA list 1 (Inerts of Toxicological Concern), list 2 (Potentially Toxic Inerts), or list 3 (Inerts of Unknown Toxicity).
- There are no petroleum based products in Foray® 48B
- Foray® 48B is a biological insecticide, not a chemical insecticide
- Peer reviewed scientific literature by recognized specialists in the field of toxicology and medicine shows that to date no definitive evidence of adverse health effects due to exposures to B.t.k. have been reported. (World Health Organization. 1999. Environmental Health Criteria 217 Bacillus thuringiensis. WHO, Geneva 105 pp.)
- B.t.k. has been safely used for more than 40 years
- B.t.k. only affects butterfly and moth species that are in the larval (caterpillar) stage during the spray. It is not considered harmful to other insects, mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
- B.t.k. kills very few caterpillars directly; the caterpillar's own gut bacteria kill it with the help of B.t.k. (Science News Vol. 170 #14, p. 221)
more information about gypsy moth eradication and B.t.k. facts and studies
recent poll in the Eugene Register Guard: Should insecticides be sprayed in the Lane County area to control the gypsy moth?
Foray® 48B label (pdf, 733 KB)
Foray® 48B MSDS (pdf, 27 KB)
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| Information about the proposed Eugene eradication |
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Any breeding population of gypsy moth in Oregon should be eradicated as soon as possible because it keeps the eradication area as small as possible, costs less than a larger eradication, and has the highest likelihood of success. Although we only caught seven moths in Eugene, it is a breeding population. ODA is choosing B.t.k. to eradicate this gypsy moth population because it is currently the safest (to the environment, people, and other organisms) and is the most effective method. Other methods to eradicate gypsy moths were not chosen either because they are not effective or as safe:
- Diflubenzuron (Dimilin) is an insect growth regulator that has a broader non-target host range than B.t.k. and it can kill many other insects besides moth and butterfly caterpillars. Its use may adversely affect other insect populations, including beneficial ones.
- Gypsy moth virus (Gypchek) is very host specific, but it is not widely available in the market and it is still somewhat experimental for eradication programs. The effectiveness of gypcheck has been variable.
- Mating disruption is still an experimental method and its effect on gypsy moth infestations is variable. This alternative has been used more frequently in recent years in slow-the-spread programs in eastern states but has not been used for eradication in western states.
- Sterile insect releases are also experimental and their effect on gypsy moth suppression is variable. (ODA used it in 1992 but failed to eradicate a GM population in Portland. ODA had to use B.t.k. in 1993 to eradicate this population.)
- Mass trapping has been tested as an eradication tool, but results have been unreliable. This method, however, is very useful when used in combination with B.t.k.
Gypsy moth informational flyer: Protecting Eugene from the Gypsy Moth (pdf, 377 KB)
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| Facts about gypsy moth |
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Gypsy moth caterpillars are one of the most destructive tree defoliators in the US. They prefer oak but will eat hundreds of species of trees and shrubs. The caterpillars have defoliated millions of acres of trees and shrubs in the northeastern United States. When the caterpillars eat the leaves of broad-leaved trees year after year the trees become weak. These trees become susceptible to disease and fire, and may provide poor habitat for other forms of animal and plant life. Fir trees can die after just one year if the caterpillars strip all of the needles. Not only do caterpillars strip trees and shrubs of foliage, they can become a nuisance when crawling on sidewalks, patios, houses, and other structures. They also create a continuous and audible rain of messy droppings under infested trees. In some cases, people develop an allergy to the hairs of the gypsy moth larvae.
More about gypsy moth
Oregon gypsy moth survey
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| Facts about previous eradications in Lane county |
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We have had two previous B.t.k. Gypsy moth treatments in Lane county, one over an area of over 220,000 acres (in early 80's) and the other in the Crest Drive area of Eugene (2004). Here are excerpts from the Public Health Department:
The Health Division and county health departments conducted public health tracking of illnesses possibly related to Gypsy Moth spraying during previous spray programs in Lane County in 1985-6 and the Portland Metropolitan area in 1987 and 1992. The tracking included reports from doctors and information on hospital emergency room visits. There was no increase in illnesses among people living in spray areas that could be linked to the spraying.
In 1986, the Health Division conducted a special study of health complaints related to the spraying. No unusual patterns of illness complaints were identified. Cultures (blood, urine, throat, wound, etc.) from patients in the spray area were evaluated to determine if Btk was present. When Btk was found in the culture from a patient, that person's medical record was reviewed to determine whether the Btk had caused illness. We found 58 patients with cultures that grew Btk. In 55 of these instances, it was determined that Btk was probably a contaminant of the culture, not the cause of illness. In three patients, there was some evidence that the positive cultures resulted from contamination, but it could not be conclusively determined whether Btk was a contaminant of the culture or the cause of illness. All three patients had pre-existing medical problems.
In 1992, the Multnomah County Health Department and the Health Division jointly monitored the population in the spray area for signs of ill health effects. A total of 66 calls were received from people living in the spray zone, who reported symptoms which they thought may have been caused by the Btk spray. Most of the symptoms reported were minor and were not clearly associated with the spray when complaints were investigated. No positive cultures for Btk infection were found.
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| Spray summaries |
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First Application
The first application was completed Thursday morning, 4/30/09. Early morning fog and the presence of school buses in the spray block delayed liftoff of the helicopter until 8:30 AM. Spraying was completed just before 10:00 AM. Automated update calls went out at 6:50 AM, 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM to interested parties. Thirty additional people signed up for automated calls during the morning bringing the total to 111. Approximately 100 calls were received on the hotline. One man complained of a headache, there were no other complaints of health impacts during the application.
Second Application
The second application of Btk was applied early Friday morning, 5/8/09. Weather conditions were excellent. Spraying was complete by 7:03 AM. There were no reported health impacts. We received 50 calls on the hotline. The majority were asking for information on timing.
135 robo calls went out at 5:37 AM and 7:10 AM to announce the start and finish of the project.
Third Application
The third and final application of Btk was applied early Wednesday morning, 5/20/09. Spraying was complete by 6:50 AM. There were no reported health impacts. 148 robo calls went out at 5:05 AM and 6:50 AM to announce the start and finish of the project.
Trivia: The first gypsy moth ever found in Oregon was trapped in 1979 in Lake Oswego. We've successfully eradicated every new infestations since then. The largest project was in 1985 when 225,000 acres were treated. Keeping Oregon free of this pest for 30 years is a remarkable achievement!
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