The Illinois Department of Agriculture is planning four open houses to explain the process of treating areas of northern Illinois for the gypsy moth.
The destructive moth eats hundreds of different species of trees and shrubs, especially oak leaves. Severe defoliation can lead to tree death.
According to the Department of Agriculture, infested sites will be treated with applications of a naturally-occurring bacteria used by gardeners as an environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. Officials also use mating disruption (MD), a gypsy moth-specific pheromone that acts as a sexual attractant and prevents male gypsy moths from breeding.
Planes will apply the pheromone flakes in late June. Plant and Pesticide Specialist Supervisor Scott Schirmer says they are not harmful to people and animals.
People who live or work near the application site may want to stay indoors for 30 minutes to allow time for material to settle out of the air.
Presentations are scheduled to discuss and answer any questions about treatments in the surrounding areas: