Title
Resolution to Direct City to Assess and Monitor Extent of Gypsy Moth Infestation and Develop Treatment Plan and Budget
Body
Whereas, The City has been made aware of residents’ concerns associated with a May 2018 gypsy moth outbreak and homeowners have requested treatment recommendations and assistance;
Whereas, The City Forester indicates that the City does not, at this time, plan or recommend aerial spraying with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a natural insecticide that the City has utilized previously (i.e., in 1997-98), but is now cautioning its use because it is not specific to gypsy moths and kills other butterfly and moth larvae;
Whereas, The City Forester has determined and anticipates that the gypsy moth population will decline in response to a natural predator fungus (Entomophaga maimagia) that spreads in wet spring conditions and infects and kills gypsy moth larvae;
Whereas, Homeowners remain concerned about tree defoliation and the need for a gypsy moth treatment and control plan, and are now employing costly and labor intensive management methods to counter the devastating effects of gypsy moth defoliation;
Whereas, The University of Michigan recently issued a “Gypsy Moth Caterpillar Update”, and throughout the summer and fall will be monitoring the health of affected trees to guide future planning and treatment actions and recommendations;
Whereas, The gypsy moth caterpillar will pupate in mid-July and trees will be further stressed, defoliate and likely shed a second set of leaves; and
Whereas, The University of Michigan’s monitoring plan includes removing gypsy moth egg masses in the late summer and fall of 2018, tracking the spread of the gypsy moth population and infestation with use of pheromone traps , and treating affected areas with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in early to mid-May 2019;
Whereas, It would be beneficial for the City to also establish a monitoring and treatment plan in coordination with the University of Michigan pheromone trapping program, and this would require that the City undertake a pheromone trapping program in the summer (June to mid-July) to capture adult moths; and
Whereas, The University has placed approximately 40 pheromone traps and dedicated a technician and intern to the monitoring task, and will digitally map their assessment efforts, and this staffing model can inform the City’s efforts;
RESOLVED, That the City Council directs the City Administrator to establish a monitoring plan and recommended budget and funding source for a summer 2018 pheromone trapping plan; and
Resolved, That the monitoring results will be reported to Council when complete, and utilized to guide the budget and planning for Spring 2019 gypsy moth treatments and any interim recommendations and actions.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Lumm, Eaton, Bannister and Westphal
Submitted: 6/29/18