The gypsy moth is one of North America's most devastating forest pests and Armstrong County officials are ready to take them on. A public meeting to discuss the approach has been scheduled.
Around1869, E. Leopold Trouvelot, who made a living as an artist, had an amateur interest in entomology. In the late 1860's he returned from a trip to France with some gypsy moth egg masses. He was apparently culturing them on trees in back of his house when some of the larvae escaped.
About 10 years after this introduction, the first outbreaks began in Trouvelot's Boston neighborhood, and in 1890 the state and federal government began their attempts to eradicate the gypsy moth. These attempts ultimately failed and since that time, the range of gypsy moth has continued to spread. It is inevitable that the gypsy moth will continue to expand its range in the future.
Fast forward to today and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, is working to control the spread of the pest through the Gypsy Moth Suppression Program which is a forested residential program.
Some counties in South Central Pennsylvania are experiencing increased populations of the gypsy moth, officials say.
Armstrong County is participating in the 2009 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program and will be holding a public meeting in the Commissioners Conference Room in the courthouse annex at 450 East Market St. Kittanning on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
Several items will be discussed, including cost sharing, qualified treatment areas, land assessment and requests for treatments.
