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Ohio Department of Agriculture
Even in Scarlet
& Gray country, these Maize & Blue planes are welcome
Low-flying aircraft to combat the invasive gypsy moth in Columbus
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (June 20, 2016) – As Columbus commuters and
residents go about their routines Tuesday morning they are likely to
notice these yellow airplanes gracing the skies of the capital city:
The Ohio Department of Agriculture wants to make folks aware that these
airplanes are fighting back against the gypsy moth, a pest that can
wreak havoc on over 300 different types of our trees and shrubs. The
gypsy moth has been such a pest to our trees for so long it was even
featured on this classic episode of Lassie, “Lassie and the Winged
Enemy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jXKDi7dZ6Y
Airplanes will fly 100-200 feet above the tree tops and buildings to
apply the treatment throughout the day. Weather permitting, treatments
will begin in the Columbus area, including downtown on Tuesday, June
21st, and occur over one or two days.
The product being used is Disrupt II, a tiny flake which does not kill
the moth, but disrupts the mating process by confusing the male as it
searches for a female mate. Disrupt II is not harmful to birds, plants,
pets or humans.
For more information on the gypsy moth, including maps of the treatment
areas in Columbus, videos of the mating disruption treatment process
and much more, please visit
http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/plant/gypsy/gypsy-index.aspx
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