Almost 3,000 acres had been sprayed this year by the state since May 9. The department's goal is to spray 8,500 acres in about two dozen municipalities. The department has said populations of the insects this year will be heaviest in Bergen, Burlington, Hunterdon, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Sussex, and Warren counties. By early June, the insects' mobility will increase as the caterpillars mature, to about 2 inches. When they are an inch or smaller is the best time to spray, Kegg said.
Gypsy moths are less picky, feeding off pines, oak, maple, or other woods.
They have not so far this spring gotten the best of orchard owners. And we don't see any evidence of them this year. The word is the same in Hope, Warren County. Burke said his orchard has already been sprayed. Sharon Southard, a spokeswoman with the Department of Environmental Protection, which is responsible for spraying state-owned lands, said the agency this year will likely spray about 4,000 acres in addition to what Kegg's bureau will undertake.