Gypsy Moth Suppression Program
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NEW RELEASE:
Gypsy Moth Caterpillars are Hatching! (04/23/12)
Bay County Gypsy Moth Suppression Program staff have found a few gypsy moth egg masses that are now hatching. This is the earliest that staff members have noted a gypsy moth hatch throughout Bay County. The gypsy moth population is still extremely low, but if the eggs are present in your area you will be seeing the tiny 1/8th inch caterpillars crawling around. When they first hatch, the caterpillars climb to the highest point they can reach and wait for the wind to blow them to a new area and hopefully a suitable food sources. |
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Bay County Building
515 Center Avenue, Suite 503
Bay City, Michigan 48708-5126
(989) 895-4195 Voice
(989) 895-4049 TDD/TTY
Special Events:
Bay County Mosquito Control Spring Scrap Tire Drive:
The Bay County Mosquito Control Program will be having their Spring Scrap Tire Drive on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Bay County Mosquito Control Building, 810 Livingston Avenue, Bay City, MI and at the Bay County Pinconning Park, 3041 East Pinconning Road, Pinconning, MI.
2012 Garden Walk:
Bay City Garden Club presents "Water, Woods and Whimsy" a collection of six Westside gardens that promise to inspire you as you wander through the landscapes that incorporate pools, patios and pottings sheds. June 21st, 11-7 gardens will be open for self guided tours, a Master Gardener will answer questions. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 day of the walk. Tickets can be purchased at local businesses look on our website:www.baycitygardenclub.com. All funds will be dedicated to the completion of the 12 acre Kantzler Arboretum located on the Bay City Riverwalk. Plans to connect the Arboretum to the Trombley House (Bay CIty's oldest house) are underway. Proceeds along with grants will help fund new walkways, additional plantings, benches nad lighting. Construction will begin this spring.
Bangor Township Green Team Rain Barrel Project:
The Rain Barrel Project will allow residents to use specially crafted rain barrels to capture rainwater from their roofs and use it for watering their gardens. The project could keep more than 5 million gallons of runoff from entering storm drains, which carry muck-making phosphorus and other pollutants to Saginaw Bay, the area’s source for drinking water.
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Gypsy Moth Suppression Program:
The purpose of the Gypsy Moth Suppression Program is to protect Bay County's highly valued trees from the damaging effects of the gypsy moth caterpillar. Gypsy moth populations can build to intolerable levels in a short time. When this build up occurs, the caterpillars will defoliate large trees in a few weeks, invade yards and recreational areas, and become a general nuisance to people living in infested areas.
Services offered by the Gypsy Moth Suppression Program include:
- Monitoring all wooded and residential areas of Bay County for the presence of gypsy moth life stages.
- Conduct suppression/control activities in heavily infested areas of the county. This includes determining where out-break level populations occur, contracting with an aerial applicator and conducting treatment projects in highly infested areas, and evaluation of treatment results.
- Cooperate with the Michigan Department of Agriculture's (MDA) grant program for gypsy moth suppression to ensure maximum reimbursement on treatment and administrative costs. By following MDA guidelines and participating in the grant program, Bay County is able to reduce the cost of the program for Bay County taxpayers.
- Conduct educational programs for schools, property owners, and local civic groups. The program utilizes Bay County Pinconning Park as a staging area for many of these presentations, which include information on the life cycle of the gypsy moth, how it fits into our local ecology, and methods for controlling the gypsy moth.
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Gyspy Moth Suppression Program Links of Interest:
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Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an Asian beetle that moved into the south-east corner of Michigan some time in the early 1990's. It's larvae feed on the cambium or conductive tissue just under the bark of ash trees.
The emerald ash borer(EAB) is a very destructive insect that kill all species of North American ash trees. It is responsible for the death of millions of trees throughout Michigan and it has spread to 13 additional states and 2 Canadian Provinces. First found in the Detroit area of south eastern Michigan in 2002, the EAB were most likely introduced into the USA in wood packing material during the early 1990's. The Bay County Gypsy Moth Suppression Program responded to threat to our local forests by adding the EAB education and monitoring to Gypsy Moth Program Activities.
Other Invasive Pests & Plants
Besides the Gypsy Moth and the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), there are many insects and plants that can invade our yards and woodlands. Please check out our information regarding Other Invasive Pests & Plants.
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Pest of the Month - May
Canckerworms
There are two types of cankerworms common to Michigan, fall and spring cankerworms. The biggest difference between the two species is that the fall cankerworm female moth lays its eggs in the fall, usually after the first hard frost and the spring cankerworm female moth lays its eggs in the spring, usually after the first major spring thaw. Both species eggs are lain closely together in rows around small twigs and begin to hatch in early April due to the exceptionally mild winter. |
Additional Information & Assistance
Bay County Gypsy Moth Suppression Program staff members are available to visit your home or site to check for invasive pests such as gypsy moths, emerald ash borers and other native or non-native invasive pests that may be affecting the health of your trees and shrubs. Please call 989-895-4195 if you have any questions.