New Mating Disruption Treament to Be Used in Illinois

Chicago Press Release

New Pheromone Treatment Disrupting Gypsy Moth Mating to Begin in Northern Illinois

Released June 28, 2009

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is scheduled to start a new Gypsy Moth treatment program Thursday, June 25, in LaSalle and Ogle counties.

Applicators this year will use a new product called SPLAT.

SPLAT has the consistency of hand cream when applied and looks like candle wax after it dries. SPLAT is made from a mixture of water, wax and vegetable oils. It also contains preservatives and emulsifiers, which are the same ingredients used in skin care products.

“When the gypsy moth sex pheromone is added to SPLAT and the mixture is applied in the field, gypsy moth mating is disrupted and the pest population is reduced,” Warren Goetsch, bureau chief of Environmental Programs, said. “If most adult moths don’t mate, then fewer larvae will be present to cause damage to the leaves on trees.”

The Splat treatments are not harmful to humans. All ingredients are listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as being non-toxic. Spraying will begin in the areas listed below on Thursday June 25, but could be delayed in the event of poor weather conditions.

LaSalle County

Marseilles - 1,277 acres will be sprayed. The treatment areas include parts of the city and rural areas to the north. Treatment of the sites in town will be done in the early morning either Thursday, June 25 or Friday, June 26.

Oglesby - 440 acres will be sprayed, including a small part of Oglesby and part of Matthiessen State Park.

Sheridan- 643 acres will be sprayed. The sites include mostly rural areas adjacent to the Fox River and a small portion of Fox River Resort.

Starved Rock State Park- 920 acres will be sprayed.

Ogle County

Castle Rock State Park- 1,966 acres will be sprayed, including a rural area just south of Oregon on the west side of the Rock River.

Lost Lake – 3,655 acres will be sprayed. It’s a rural area that includes parts of Lost Nations POA and Lost Nations Golf Club north into Lowden-Miller State Forest.

Oregon- 1,189 acres will be sprayed. The acreage is located in a rural area three miles east of Oregon.

For more information about the Gypsy Moth treatments, including maps of the areas that will be treated, log onto the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s website.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Cavanaugh, 815-787-5487.