Letter regarding Eradication of Lymantria Moth Population

REF: 269030

January 5, 2022

EMAIL: INFO@VIEWROYAL.CA, MAYORANDCOUNCIL@VIEWROYAL.CA

Mayor David Screech, Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Avenue Victoria, British Columbia V9B 1A6

Dear Mayor Screech and Council:

The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) has planned an aerial spray treatment to eradicate an establishing Lymantria (formerly gypsy) moth population centered over the Fort Victoria RV Park, paralleling the Trans-Canada Highway, View Royal, British Columbia. The aerial spray is planned for the spring of 2022 and covers 50 hectares. A map is attached for your reference. This site is one of nine areas being treated in southern Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland in 2022.

Trapping and monitoring results over the past several years show clear evidence a Lymantria moth population is establishing. The moth population could easily spread to other areas via transportation routes, and if untreated, the moth could cause significant damage to the area’s forests, farms, orchards and urban trees.

The Ministry requests an opportunity to present in-person or virtually an overview of the planned Lymantria Moth Eradication program. The presentation would provide context on why the treatment is required; outline how the program would roll-out; summarize our public notification strategy; and provide an opportunity to answer any questions. Tim Ebata, Forest Entomologist, will be providing the presentation and answer any questions that may result.

Lymantria moth is an important insect pest which can defoliate and kill a broad range of host trees. This insect is not native to British Columbia but is frequently introduced to the province through the movement of household goods from Lymantria moth infested areas in eastern Canada and the United States. These periodic introductions are detected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that carries out an extensive pheromone-trapping program on an annual basis in high-risk areas, notably on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley. The remainder of the province is surveyed at a lower intensity.

Eradication programs are an essential component of our Long-Term North American Gypsy Moth Management Plan for British Columbia.

This ensures a “Lymantria moth free status” for the province, allowing continued open trade with the western United States, which also remains Lymantria moth free. When new introductions are detected and subsequent surveys prove there is a breeding population of Lymantria moth, treatment recommendations are developed by the Lymantria Moth Technical Advisory Committee (LM TAC) and forwarded to FLNRORD for approval and implementation.

The active ingredient of the spray is a bacteria (Btk) that is found naturally in soil and it affects only the larvae of moths and butterflies that are feeding at the time of the spray. Humans, pets, birds, bees, plants (including berries, leaves and bark) and other wildlife are not affected. The spray breaks down rapidly once applied and there is no long-term residual effect. There are strict weather restrictions in the Pesticide Use Permit which prohibit spraying during windy conditions (maximum wind speed of 8 km/hour) to avoid spray drifting outside the permitted area. There are three proposed applications: the first occurring in late April or early May 2022 (weather dependent) and then two more at seven- to ten-day intervals. The spraying will be finished by 8:30 am for each spray day (three spray days in total).

Further information regarding our planned 2022 gypsy moth spray program and studies relating to the impact on non-target moths and human health are also available on the Ministry website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/managing-our-forest-resources/forest-health/invasive-forest-pests/lymantria.

A public Virtual Open House is also being planned and details about this event are available at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/managing-our-forest-resources/forest-health/invasive-forest-pests/lymantria/news

Please let us know an appropriate time and venue if you would like to meet and discuss the program.

In the interim, if you have any specific questions or concerns regarding the program, please contact me (Lorne.Bedford@gov.bc.ca) or (Marnie.Duthie-Holt@gov.bc.ca) directly.

Yours truly,

Lorne Bedford, Manager Harvesting and Silviculture Practices Forest Science Planning and Practices Branch Office of the Chief Forester

Enclosure: 2022 Lymantria Moth Aerial Treatment Boundary for View Royal, British Columbia