1992. Helicopters spraying Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) for Asian gypsy moth eradication. Washington. (35228762094)

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Helicopters spraying Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) for Asian gypsy moth eradication. Washington. Photo by: Unknown Date: 1992 Credit: USDA Forest Service, Region 6, State and Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection. Source: Forest Health Protection slide collection; Regional Office, Portland, Oregon. Note: 1992 Asian Gypsy Moth Eradication Program In 1991, nine Asian gypsy moth males were caught in the vicinity of Tacoma, Washington, and one was caught in North Portland, Oregon. These moths were caught in pheromone-baited traps during surveys conducted annually by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Washington Department of Agriculture. During April and May, 1992, an eradication project was conducted in both states by the Washington Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Agriculture, USDA APHIS, and USDA Forest Service. Three applications of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki were applied aerially to 132,700 acres in Washington and 11,500 acres in Oregon. The cost of the eradication project was about $9,800,000. Also, pheromone trapping in 1992 was greatly intensified around all ports and along all waterways in both Oregon and Washington; in fact, the 1992 trapping costs were almost as high as the eradication project. No moths were caught in pheromone traps in 1992 through 1994, so this project was deemed successful. From: www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/forest-grasslandhealth/invasive... A New York Times article about the spray project: www.nytimes.com/1992/05/04/us/northwest-takes-on-gypsy-mo... Image provided by USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, State and Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection: www.fs.usda.gov/main/r6/forest-grasslandhealth