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State to discuss moth plan
By Emily Charrier INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Sonoma is playing host to an unwelcome guest. Make that
pest.
Two light brown apple moths, an invasive pest, were found in Sonoma this spring, sparking a state quarantine of a 15-mile stretch along Arnold Drive in Boyes Hot Springs. In addition to restrictions on material traveling in and out of the quarantined area, in early June the California Department of Fish and Game - working with the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner - will begin placing hundreds of pheromone-imbued twist ties around the area in order to disrupt the moths' mating behavior.
"The tool we prefer to use is the twist tie. That's the only thing on the table for this county, there's nothing else we plan on using," said Dr. Robert Dowell, director of the Light Brown Apple Moth program with the State Department of Food and Agriculture.
Dowell said his department would place an estimated 250 bright red twist ties in trees and bushes over every acre of the 15-mile quarantine zone. Before that occurs, the department will hold a public information meeting on Monday, June 2, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Flowery Elementary School, 17600 Sonoma Highway, to allow residents in the affected area to address their concerns.
"There will just be people here to answer questions," he said, stressing that this is strictly informational and not a place to discuss aerial spraying.
Two days before the ties are placed the department will go door to door leaving reminder notices and asking residents to keep their gates open and their pets inside to allow workers to move through the properties.
The twist tie method has been effective in eradicating the moths in other California counties, such as Napa, when there is a limited number of moths. Dowell said spraying is only considered when there is a significant infestation, adding that just two moths have been discovered in Sonoma compared to thousands in areas where aerial spray is expected such as Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Francisco.
There has been huge debate across the state over the use of aerial spraying to contain the moth population after nearly 500 residents in Monterey complained of side effects ranging from headache to respiratory illness when the pheromone spray, CheckMate, was dispersed over the city last year. While state studies have found no connection between the spray and the illness, the state reported it could not rule out a connection and all further spraying in California has been halted until additional tests can be completed.
While both the spray and the twist ties are pheromone based, Dowell said there have been no reports of side effects from the ties.
"These (twist ties) have no affect on anything else, nothing. We're trying to protect the environment, the (agriculture) industry and the residents, that's what drives us," Dowell said, adding that many farmers and homeowners are increasing their pesticide use to combat the apple moth, meaning more chemicals are running off into the ground.
The moths are native to Australia and New Zealand but were discovered in California in 2007 sparking a number of quarantines like the one in Sonoma. The pests can feed on 20,000 different types of plants and could, according to some disputed estimates, cause billions of dollars in damages to California's agriculture industry if left unchecked.
Dowell said, "If everything goes smoothly, you'll be out from under this quarantine by the end of the year."
More information is available at the California Department of Food and Agriculture Web site, http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/.
Two light brown apple moths, an invasive pest, were found in Sonoma this spring, sparking a state quarantine of a 15-mile stretch along Arnold Drive in Boyes Hot Springs. In addition to restrictions on material traveling in and out of the quarantined area, in early June the California Department of Fish and Game - working with the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner - will begin placing hundreds of pheromone-imbued twist ties around the area in order to disrupt the moths' mating behavior.
"The tool we prefer to use is the twist tie. That's the only thing on the table for this county, there's nothing else we plan on using," said Dr. Robert Dowell, director of the Light Brown Apple Moth program with the State Department of Food and Agriculture.
Dowell said his department would place an estimated 250 bright red twist ties in trees and bushes over every acre of the 15-mile quarantine zone. Before that occurs, the department will hold a public information meeting on Monday, June 2, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Flowery Elementary School, 17600 Sonoma Highway, to allow residents in the affected area to address their concerns.
"There will just be people here to answer questions," he said, stressing that this is strictly informational and not a place to discuss aerial spraying.
Two days before the ties are placed the department will go door to door leaving reminder notices and asking residents to keep their gates open and their pets inside to allow workers to move through the properties.
The twist tie method has been effective in eradicating the moths in other California counties, such as Napa, when there is a limited number of moths. Dowell said spraying is only considered when there is a significant infestation, adding that just two moths have been discovered in Sonoma compared to thousands in areas where aerial spray is expected such as Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Francisco.
There has been huge debate across the state over the use of aerial spraying to contain the moth population after nearly 500 residents in Monterey complained of side effects ranging from headache to respiratory illness when the pheromone spray, CheckMate, was dispersed over the city last year. While state studies have found no connection between the spray and the illness, the state reported it could not rule out a connection and all further spraying in California has been halted until additional tests can be completed.
While both the spray and the twist ties are pheromone based, Dowell said there have been no reports of side effects from the ties.
"These (twist ties) have no affect on anything else, nothing. We're trying to protect the environment, the (agriculture) industry and the residents, that's what drives us," Dowell said, adding that many farmers and homeowners are increasing their pesticide use to combat the apple moth, meaning more chemicals are running off into the ground.
The moths are native to Australia and New Zealand but were discovered in California in 2007 sparking a number of quarantines like the one in Sonoma. The pests can feed on 20,000 different types of plants and could, according to some disputed estimates, cause billions of dollars in damages to California's agriculture industry if left unchecked.
Dowell said, "If everything goes smoothly, you'll be out from under this quarantine by the end of the year."
More information is available at the California Department of Food and Agriculture Web site, http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/.
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