Howell will participate in gypsy moth control efforts

BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer

HOWELL – Municipal officials have made plans to spray an insecticide over Howell’s densely forested areas in an attempt to protect trees from being stripped bare of their leaves by gypsy moth caterpillars.

State agriculture officials have said the spring of 2008 is expected to bring a gypsy moth infestation that will be worse than many areas of New Jersey experienced in 2007.

In the past Howell has participated in aerial suppression efforts to reduce, but not eradicate, the egg mass counts of the gypsy moth caterpillars.

The 2008 program is expected to reconvene in May.

According to Jeffrey Cramer, the director of the Department of Public Works, “Howell is engaged in two (gypsy moth suppression) programs. One is with the state Department of Agriculture and the other is with the Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission. The county program will cover 1,393 acres.”

Cramer said the cost of that program is included in Monmouth County taxes. There will not be an additional cost to the municipality.

“The state program, however, will cost $31,500 for 795 acres (approximately $39.62 per acre). There is an expected rebate of approximately $7,000,” Cramer said. “All the residents who live in the selected spray blocks have been notified through a first class letter sent by the township.”

As a means of comparison, neighboring Jackson Township will have almost 13,000 acres sprayed by the state and will pay about $500,000 for that service this spring.

According to Cramer, the areas of Howell that have been selected for treatment are based on the egg mass counts of each area, which are determined by the state and the county.

The insecticide that will be sprayed over parts of Howell – Bacillus thuringiensis – is nontoxic to human beings and other mammals, according to officials. It is naturally produced in the environment, however there is not enough of it to suppress the growing gypsy moth population.

In related news, the Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission will hold its annual spring forum featuring the county’s 2008 planned gypsy moth spray program at 7 p.m. March 26 at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township.

“This year’s program will focus on pest problems – specifically how towns and homeowners can understand and tackle gypsy moths, other insect problems and tree diseases,” said JohnW. Tobia, director of the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering. “We will focus on ways in which we can all work together to keep damage caused by gypsy moth caterpillar defoliation to a minimum.”