Oakville will begin treating select municipal oak trees this month to protect them against Gypsy Moth infestations. The town’s Forestry Services section will oversee injections of town-owned oaks in Winston Woods Park to curb tree damage caused by Gypsy Moth feeding on the leaves.
According to a recent town study, Oakville and surrounding municipalities are at the onset of a potential Gypsy Moth outbreak. Based on the multi-year cycle that Gypsy Moth populations historically tend to follow, the current cycle is expected to peak within one to three years. Of the town’s woodlands, developed parks, and streets surveyed, Winston Woods Park was found to be the one property at most risk of defoliation this year.
“There are no precautions that residents living in this area need to take for this operation,” explained John McNeil, manager of Forestry Services. “ The town is injecting trees with the bio-insecticide TreeAzin, formulated with the extract from the neem tree. It’s the same product we use to treat the town’s ash trees against the Emerald Ash Borer.”
Health Canada has approved TreeAzin® to control Emerald Ash Borer, Gypsy Moth, Tent Caterpillar, Spruce Budworm, Jack Pine Budworm, Arborvitae Leaf Miner, Sawflies, including Birch Leaf Miner, and Pine False Webworm.
Lymantria Dispar or Gypsy MothLymantria Dispar or Gypsy Moth
European Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) is an invasive pest from Europe and Asia that primarily feeds on leaves of deciduous hardwood trees during the caterpillar (larval) stage. With a preference for oak trees, a Gypsy Moth caterpillar can eat an average of one square metre of foliage during the larval stage. Severe infestations often lead to tree death.
Residents with oak trees on their private property are advised to have them inspected by a certified arborist this year for possible control measures.