Last year, ODA s Plant Pest Control Section launched the largest suppression treatment project in the history of the program, where more than 71,000 acres of state, private, and federal land were treated in 14 counties. Defoliation was limited to nearly 24,000 acres of trees half the number of acres as in 1999 and was found in different locations than previous years. A healthy tree can usually withstand only two years of defoliation before it is permanently damaged or dies. Another result of the gypsy moth s march across Ohio is isolated outbreaks outside infested counties, like in the areas to be treated in Greene and Clark counties. In these areas, ODA will use pheromone flakes to change the behavior of the adult moth.
Pheromones are chemicals produced by insects to communicate.
The pheromone is incorporated into plastic laminated flakes that are mixed with a sticking agent and released from an airplane. The sticking agent is not strong, but will ensure the pheromone is distributed at all levels in the forest where gypsy moths may live. If the flakes land on cars or patio furniture, they can easily be wiped or washed off. Once the flakes are released, they saturate the air in the treated area with the pheromone for 2 to 3 months, disrupting the communication between the female and male gypsy moth. The pheromone flake release in mid June is timed to correspond with the male gypsy moth s flight, preventing him from finding the flightless female and mating.