County Joining ’08 Moth Program: An Assessment of the Egg Masses of the Destructive Insects in Berks Will Be Conducted in the Fall.

By Mary E. Young, Reading Eagle, Pa.

Jul. 11–The full extent of the gypsy moth problem in Berks County won’t be known until next year.

Still, Berks County Commissioners Judith L. Schwank, Thomas W. Gajewski Sr. and Mark C. Scott agreed Tuesday to tell the state that Berks wants to participate in next year’s eradication program.

Robert B. Hopkins, a county insect suppression specialist, said St. Lawrence and Bethel, Robeson and Tilden townships are experiencing problems.

An assessment of egg masses can’t be done until fall, but the commissioners must act immediately because the deadline for notifying the state of the county’s interest was moved up to Sunday, he said.

The commissioners could withdraw their request if they change their minds after the assessment is completed, Hopkins said.

The caterpillars migrate up and down trees, stripping them of leaves and leaving droppings on the ground, he said.

“They’re a nuisance and not pleasant to be around,” Hopkins said. “If the caterpillars don’t kill the trees outright, the trees will be more susceptible to disease.

“But you basically have to wait until next year when the trees leaf out again, and you can see the damage.”

If the county is accepted into the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources eradication program, the state in May will spray affected trees with a natural bacterium that kills some but not all of the caterpillars, Hopkins said.

Property owners would have to pay 25 percent of the cost, or roughly $25 per acre sprayed, he said.

And participating municipalities would have to appoint gypsy moth coordinators, Hopkins said.

Conservation District Manager John T. Ravert would serve as county coordinator. Berks had 103 acres sprayed in 2002 and 404 acres sprayed in 2001. The last major infestation was in 1991, when 3,106 acres were sprayed.

Contact reporter Mary Young at 610-478-6292 or myoung@readingeagle.com.

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