The end of a natural cycle and an aggressive spray program have combined to limit threat of tussock moth in Kamloops residential areas.
Lorraine Maclauchlan, regional entomologist for the B.C. Forest Service, said staff have collected and compiled survey results around the region showing new threats outside the city.
Tussock moth is a natural pest that defoliates fir trees in the dry Interior valleys. It occurs in cycles and recently peaked in several hot spots, including Barnhartvale and Heffley Creek. In its caterpillar stage the insects can completely strip a tree of needles in two weeks, resulting in death.
The Ministry of Forests, together with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and City of Kamloops, mounted a spray campaign in a bid to retain fir trees. The effort came in the wake of the loss of 90 per cent of mature pine trees from mountain pine beetle.
“The highest populations we’re finding with tussock month are a bit farther a field: Ashcroft, Barnes Lake, Spences Bridge, closing in on Barriere,” Maclauchlan said.
Ministry staff looked at over 2,800 locations in the Interior for the tussock moth survey. Of the 334 locations in Kamloops, none turned up with a high count of egg masses, although Maclauchlan cautioned there will be spots next summer that weren’t seen during surveys.
“There are still populations out there. Hopefully with the City and TNRD we can have public meetings and get input from people where on private land they have populations.”
Maclauchlan said she hopes a spray program, using a combination of a natural virus and bacterium, can be used in the region next year. Budgets, however, are not set.
