Forest Service News Release

Forest Service Accepting Public Comments on Spongy Moth Suppression 

Warren, PA, March 24, 2022— The US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service is accepting public comments on a proposal to use additional treatment methods to suppress outbreaks of spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar), formerly known as gypsy moth, on the Allegheny National Forest in future years.

Treatment under our previous decision allows the aerial application of B.t.k. (Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki) – a naturally occurring native bacterium – to the crowns of overstory trees. We are proposing to supplement that decision by expanding the range of approved treatment methods to include tebufenozide, Gypchek, and a protocol for approving the use of other methods in the future.

The Allegheny National Forest has partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry, to conduct spongy moth egg mass surveys to assess population trends and inform potential management responses to suppress populations and resulting defoliation.

For more information, a draft supplemental environmental assessment is available at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61480. Printed copies are available upon request. Please respond with comments about our proposed activities by April 25, 2022.

• Comments may be emailed to comments-eastern-allegheny@usda.gov . Please enter the project name (Spongy Moth Suppression) on the subject line and include your name and physical mailing address as well.
• Comments may be sent by mail to Jamie Davidson, Forest Supervisor, Allegheny National Forest, 4 Farm Colony Drive, Warren, PA 16365.
• Comments may be faxed to 814-726-1465.

If you have questions, please contact Forest Silviculturist Josh Hanson at 814- 728-6161 or joshua.w.hanson@usda.gov.

Information concerning the common name change of Lymantria dispar dispar, is available at Entomological Society of America Discontinues Use of Gypsy Moth (entsoc.org).