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Spongy moth spraying to start in Wisconsin

Aerial spraying for the Spongy Moth will begin soon in Wisconsin.   

Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection officials say portions of ten counties in Western Wisconsin will have low-flying planes applying a natural soil bacterium (BTK or Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki) as early as sunrise.  Those counties are Chippewa, Crawford, Dunn, Grant, La Crosse, Lafayette, and Rusk.

A mating disruptor will also be sprayed in parts of Barron, Chippewa, Crawford, Dunn, Grant, La Crosse, Lafayette, Vernon and Washburn counties.

Spraying will begin shortly after caterpillars hatch and when weather conditions are favorable, meaning calm winds, with no precipitation or high humidity.

 Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki or BTK is a naturally-occurring soil bacteria that kills spongy moth caterpillars.