VASCM: Spray Program in Santa Cruz Co. for Light Brown Apple Moth, Nov. 4-9

[Mary Lindsay]

Note that the CDFA is spraying for the Light Brown Apple Moth throughout 
Santa Cruz County using a pheromone to disrupt breeding.  Forwarded from 
the California Assn. of Winegrape Growers (CAWG).

- Mary Lindsay

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From: CDFA News [mailto:CDFANews at cdfa.ca.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 1:15 PM
Subject: CDFA News Release

 

Release#CDFA07-081

 

CDFA ANNOUNCES PUBLIC MEETINGS IN SALINAS AND SANTA CRUZ FOR
 LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH ERADICATION PROGRAM

 


SACRAMENTO, October 10, 2007 - The California Department of Food and 
Agriculture is announcing a series of public meetings for October 22-26 
to discuss planned Light Brown Apple Moth pheromone applications for the 
North Salinas/Boronda, Prunedale/Royal Oaks and greater Santa Cruz 
areas. The applications are scheduled for November 4-9. Residents of the 
treatment zones will receive notices in the mail informing them of the 
upcoming meetings.

 

The schedule is as follows:

 

Monday, October 22 - Santa Cruz - Cocoanut Grove Grand Ballroom. 400 
Beach Street.
5 pm to 7 pm - Informational Open house
7 pm to 8 pm - Formal Presentation
8 pm to 10 pm - Public Comment

 

Tuesday, October 23 - Santa Cruz - University Inn and Conference Center  
611 Ocean Street
 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Informational Open House
 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm -  Formal Presentation
 8:30 pm to 11 pm - Public Comment

 

Wednesday, October 24 - Salinas - Echo Valley Elementary School  147 
Echo Valley Road 
5 pm to 7 pm - Informational Open house
7 pm to 8 pm - Formal Presentation
8 pm to 9 pm - Public Comment


Thursday, October 25 - Salinas - Salinas Community Center - 940 N. Main 
Street
4 pm to 6 pm - Informational Open house
6 pm to 7 pm - Formal Presentation
7 pm to 9 pm - Public Comment

 

Friday, October 26 - Salinas - Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School - 1225 
Towt Street
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Informational Open house
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm - Formal Presentation
8:30 pm to 10 pm - Public Comment

 

CDFA and the USDA are working together on the eradication program for 
the light brown apple moth - using a pheromone called Checkmate LBAM-F 
that is specific to the apple moth and a few closely related moths. 

 

While conventional insecticides are designed to kill insects, pheromones 
are designed to distract or confuse them so that they cannot breed.  In 
nature, the pheromone is released by the female moth to attract a mate. 
The "scent" is undetectable to humans and is highly specific to the 
light brown apple moth, so it does not affect other kinds of insects or 
animals. The aerial releases are intended to surround the local moth 
population with pheromone so that the male moths can't locate the female 
moths. The moth population will decline and collapse as the rate of 
breeding slows and eventually subsides. The pheromone remains effective 
for about a month.

 

The pheromone, an odorless material called Checkmate LBAM-F, has been 
reviewed and approved by the federal EPA and the California Department 
of Pesticide Regulation; and has been accepted for use by the California 
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), the Monterey 
Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 
Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the California 
Department of Forestry. The product has been registered for over a 
decade with no reports of any health or environmental effects. 
Toxicologists have stated that the pheromone shows no evidence of 
toxicity to people, pets or plants, and that humans are unable to react 
to or even recognize insect pheromones. Additionally, widely respected 
environmental groups are accepting this approach: including the Natural 
Resources Defense Council, Monarch Watch, and the Monterey County-based 
Otter Project. 

 

Over the past few months, Central Coast and East Bay communities have 
been part of a regional quarantine that has helped keep the infestation 
from spreading to other areas of the state. The pheromone treatments are 
the next step toward eradication. Pheromone releases in other infested 
areas will be planned as the program progresses.

 

The light brown apple moth is of particular concern because it can 
damage a wide range of crops and other plants including the Central 
Coast's prized cypress as well as redwoods, oaks and many other 
varieties commonly found in our urban and suburban landscaping, public 
parks, and natural environment.  The list of agricultural crops that 
could be damaged by this pest includes grapes, citrus, stone fruits 
(peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, apricots) and many others. The 
complete "host list" contains well over 1,000 plant species and more 
than 250 fruits and vegetables.  The pest damages plants and crops by 
feeding on leaves, new shoots and fruit.

Media Contact: Steve Lyle, Director of Public Affairs, (916) 654-0462

Larry Hawkins, USDA, (916) 930-5509

 

-30-

 

The California Department of Food and Agriculture protects and promotes 
California's $31.8 billion agricultural industry. California's farmers 
and ranchers produce a safe, secure supply of food, fiber and shelter; 
marketed fairly for all Californians; and produced with responsible 
environmental stewardship.