CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) advises landowners to enroll in the Cooperative State-County-Landowner (CSCL) Lymantria dispar (spongy moth) Suppression Program to safeguard their forested acreage from the destructive impacts of the invasive Lymantria dispar.
The registration period is open from July 1 to August 31, 2024.
Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt emphasized the significance of West Virginia’s forests as a critical state resource supporting various sectors, including tourism and the timber industry. He encouraged participation in programs like the CSCL Lymantria dispar initiative to combat invasive species like the spotted lanternfly. Starting July 1, the CSCL Lymantria dispar program will accept applications for egg mass surveys from landowners across the state.
Application forms and brochures can be accessed at https://agriculture.wv.gov/divisions/plant-industries/forest-health-protection/. Landowners can also obtain forms from local WVU Extension offices or WVDA field offices in Charleston (304-558-2212) or New Creek (304-788-1066).
An application must be accompanied by a non-refundable survey deposit of five dollars ($5.00) per acre, capped at $2000.00, which will be credited toward treatment costs for qualifying landowners.
A Homeowners Associations (HOA) must submit a comprehensive list of property owners opting in or out of the program and include this information on the provided map. WVDA will assess the logistical removal of non-participating property owners from the treatment area; failure to comply may disqualify the HOA from the program. Property owners objecting to treatment will have a 150-foot buffer outside their property boundaries. The HOA coordinator should liaise with property owners to discuss treatment options, as the entire block must receive treatment with either BTK or Mimic.
WVDA Plant Industries Assistant Director Butch Sayers highlighted the threat posed by Lymantria dispar, an invasive insect feeding on a wide range of trees and shrubs, including West Virginia hardwoods.
Defoliation caused by Lymantria dispar caterpillars can compromise tree health, increasing susceptibility to pests and diseases. The treatment program aims to protect forests from further harm. To be eligible for the program, a minimum of 50 contiguous acres of wooded land is required, and adjoining landowners can combine properties to meet this threshold.
Upon receiving applications and deposits, a forest health protection specialist will assess the property for Lymantria dispar infestation levels in accordance with program criteria. Participation confirmation entails signing a contract with WVDA by early December 2024.
For further details, contact WVDA Assistant Director Quentin “Butch” Sayers at qsayers@wvda.us or WVDA Lymantria Dispar Program Coordinator G. Scott Hoffman at ghoffman@wvda.us.
