Gypsy moth spraying project completed in Decorah

Low flying airplanes spread pheromone flakes on Wednesday morning in the Decorah area in an attempt to slow the spread of gypsy moths, a pest that can be destructive to trees and shrubs.

Five spraying planes were used and two scout planes.  The spraying began before 7:00 a.m. and ended mid-morning Wednesday.  Each airplane pass covered a swath 100 feet wide.

Iowa is part of a nine state effort to slow the spread of gypsy moths across the country using pheromone flakes to disrupt the mating process. In total, 158,649 acres of forestland will be treated in Iowa and 450,000 acres nationwide.

The treatment is being conducted through a partnership between the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the USDA Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Foundation.

The spraying has also been done in Jackson and Allamakee counties.

This picture courtesy of Peter Jorgensen

Plane flying over south Decorah