MDA Launches Twitter Feed for Gypsy Moth Spraying Announcements

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 30, 2012) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has launched a dedicated Twitter feed to help keep the public apprised of its gypsy moth spraying activities. Garrett County is the only county in the state that MDA will spray for gypsy moths this spring. The Twitter feed can be followed @MDGypsyMoth while the main MDA Twitter feed can be followed @MdAgDept. The MDA website has also been updated with more comprehensive information about spray activities. .

“The gypsy moth is the most destructive pest of forest and shade trees in Maryland. We take great care every year to monitor and survey gypsy moth activities and develop appropriate plans with the resources available,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “When we do spray for gypsy moths, we often get calls from concerned citizens who don’t recognize the helicopters and don’t know what they’re doing. We are using new social media tools this season to help alleviate concerns before they arise. Follow us on Twitter and see where the aircraft will be.”

This spring, beginning May 15 (weather permitting), some 2,530 acres of forest land will be sprayed for gypsy moth, all of it in Garrett County. See a map of where in Garrett County spraying will occur.

Large gypsy moth outbreaks have affected hundreds of thousands of acres statewide over the years. MDA conducts an Integrated Pest Management program to minimize unnecessary losses, through monitoring, assessment, information and education, and pest control actions. In high infestation areas where dieback or mortality cannot be tolerated, MDA will conduct aerial insecticide treatments to protect and preserve the forest and shade trees.

During the spring of 2008 – one of the worst years for gypsy moth infestation and defoliation, MDA sprayed more than 99,200 acres across the state. Trees on more than 97 percent of the areas sprayed were protected from severe leaf destruction.

For more information about gypsy moths and MDA’s 2012 Cooperative Gypsy Moth Suppression Program. For the latest information on spraying activities, follow us on Twitter @MDGypsyMoth.