Gypsy Moth Aerial Operation in West Hamilton ON Today – Wednesday 8 October.

Suitable weather conditions mean the first aerial treatment against gypsy moth in West Hamilton is ON today.

The operation will get underway soon after first light and is expected to be completed by late morning, weather permitting.

“This is the first aerial treatment for gypsy moth that the people of Hamilton will have experienced. We’d like to reassure people that even though the aircraft will be flying low overhead and will be noisy, the Civil Aviation Authority have approved our flight plans, pilots and aircraft as safe” says Robert Isbister, General Manager, Gypsy Moth.

“When the operation has been completed an immediate review of the operation will occur and any fine tuning that is appropriate, to enhance the next operation, will be made.

“We are naturally pleased that the first operation is going to get underway this morning – it takes us that much closer to overcoming any risk of the gypsy moth establishing.”

The aerial operation is one way that MAF is combating the gypsy moth in Hamilton. The programme has been prepared by a team of experts based on information gathered from the male moth found in Hamilton in March of this year and from knowledge of how the pest behaves overseas.

Aerial application of Foray 48B was used successfully against the white spotted tussock moth in Auckland’s eastern suburbs between 1996 and 1997 and is currently proving to be effective against the painted apple moth in Auckland’s western suburbs.

The eight-operation campaign is scheduled to finish by mid-December.

MAF is also undertaking trapping, ground searching and treatment and vegetation control. This combination is considered the best way to successfully eradicate gypsy moth.

The public can find information about the progress of the campaign by listening to Classic Hits (98.6 FM), Newstalk ZB (1296 AM & 97 FM) and ZM 89.8 (89.8 FM) throughout the day. This information will also be available online at www.maf.govt.nz/gypsy-moth and via the Gypsy Moth Information Line 0800 96 96 96.

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