The second of two days of aerial spraying for gypsy moths over parts of north Sarnia was completed early Friday morning.
Zimmer Air Services used a twin-engine chopper to spray 63.5 hectares of the prescribed area between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., the first spraying was June 1.
A helicopter conducting gypsy moth spraying over north Sarnia June 5, 2020 (Photo courtesy of Pat Brethaur)
Areas covered included Canatara Park, Lake Chipican Drive, Oak Acres Park, Lakeshore Road East of Modeland Road, and Colborne Road north of Michigan Avenue, south of Cathcart Boulevard, east to Errol Rd and Ridgewood Drive.
Area homeowners were sent notices in advance.
Manager of Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Patti Ross said conditions were ideal for a good application.
"There were two applications, one Monday, one today, that's standard practice," said Ross. "We expect that we got a really good take on it, I just want to caution people that it does take at least four days for them to see any kind of results as far as mortality for the caterpillars."
Ross said the caterpillars have to eat a portion of the sprayed leaves which will affect their digestive system.
The spraying went ahead after Sarnia council rejected a last-minute reconsideration of the $90,000 program in May.
It was undertaken after heavy tree defoliation from caterpillars in the city's north end in 2019.
-With files from Melanie Irwin
