City of Toronto decides to spray insecticide to fight Gypsy Moth

insidetoronto.com
May 15, 2017
By David Nickle

Look to the skies, west-end residents.

Over the next month, Toronto will begin aerial spraying of insecticide to deal with an infestation of Gypsy Moth larvae that is too massive to deal with through mechanical and ground-based spraying.

City staff have been surveying egg levels in neighbourhoods across the city, and found that in west Toronto the infestation is so great that gentler methods won’t work. The moths’ larvae can defoliate trees to the point where they’re vulnerable to weather and other infestations.

From May 18 to June 10, the city will be spraying an insecticide via helicopter in the following neighbourhoods, between 5 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. daily.

Areas to be sprayed include:

• Princess Margaret Boulevard and Kipling Avenue
• Thorncrest Road
• Edenbridge Drive
• Edenbrook Hill
• Valecrest Drive
• North Drive
• Royal York Road and Bloor Street West
• The Kingsway
• Baby Point Crescent/Baby Point Road
• Jane Street and Bloor Street West

The insecticide is Foray 48B Biological Insecticide Aqueous Suspension. It contains the active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (BtK). It is registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Registration Number: 24977).

According to a city news release, the pesticide is not linked to significant health risks to humans. Residents not wishing to be exposed should remain inside during the spraying times, and can also cover patio furniture prior to spraying.