Spraying of Light Brown Apple Moth Postponed By California Department of Food and Agriculture
Michael Tyler, Staff Reporter

Aerial spraying for the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) in Monterey County has been temporarily postponed due to poor weather, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced Tuesday night.

“High winds and the chance of rain have postponed spraying for tonight,” said Margarette Krik, a CDFA employee.

This second round of aerial spraying, originally scheduled for Oct. 9 through 12, is part of a 15 million dollar United States Department of Agriculture program called the Cooperative Light Brown Apple Moth Eradication Project.

Infestation by the light brown apple moth would be particularly hazardous to the Monterey County because it can damage over 250 plant species including Monterey Pine, Central Coast cypress, redwoods, oaks and agricultural crops.

The presence of the apple moth, a native of Australia, was confirmed in California by the Department of Agriculture on March 22. Since then, the CDFA and USDA have conducted aggressive campaigns of surveillance, trapping and treatment.

The aerial spraying treatment is planned for containment and eradication of the LBAM, Krik said, “LBAM-F is the exact chemical replica of the female moth’s pheromone, it disrupts the mating cycle.”

According to CDFA, mating disruption involves releasing low amounts of the synthetic female pheromone, which prevents the male moth from following the female’s natural pheromone trail, therefore eggs are not fertilized and the cycle is disrupted.

The pheromone remains effective for about a month and will not affect monarch butterflies or other endangered butterfly species in the area. Kansas University entomology professor and monarch butterfly specialist Dr. Chip Taylor stated that the pheromones, which are non-toxic, are not an immediate threat to the monarchs at Pacific Grove.

The airborne spraying will require four nights. The aerial contractor, Dynamic Aviation, will use three King Air twin-turbine aircrafts flying at altitudes between 500-800 feet to release the LBAM-F pheromone.

The planes will takeoff and land at Salinas Municipal Airport. Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) systems will guide pilots on predetermined grids in the Monterey Peninsula with buffer zones ranging from 100 to 300 meters, depending on wind conditions.

“This is the most environmentally friendly pest eradication program in the history of the California Department of Food and Agriculture,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. It is truly the answer for environmental groups looking for alternatives to pesticides.”

LBAM-F has been approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency , the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The UC Davis Marine Pollution Studies Laboratory confirmed that LBAM-F would not be injurious to sea life if the material reached the ocean.

Toxicologists have stated that the LBAM-F shows no toxicity to people, pets or plants. Environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Monarch Watch, and Monterey County’s Otter Project also consider this product acceptable. LBAM-F does not harm organic certification of organic crops grown in treatment areas.

On the evenings of aerial spraying, CDFA will send an e-mail announcing intended areas of treatment and weather delays. On mornings following treatment, CDFA will e-mail subscribers results and links to a map showing progress.

Those interested in receiving e-mail updates may sign up at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PDEP/lbam/lbam_main.html

The CDFA Hotline phone number is 1-800-491-1899