The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations plans to aerially treat up to 3,600 hectares of forest around Quesnel Lake to reduce populations of the western hemlock looper larva.

The proposed treatment sites are located near Quesnel Lake. The pest management plan and maps of treatment areas can be viewed at the Cariboo Region Forest Health Program office at Suite 200, 640 Borland St., Williams Lake or online at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/rsi/ForestHealth/Western_Hemlock_Looper_Spray_Program_2012.htm

The biological insecticide Foray 48B will be applied by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft on or about June 23-28, 2012, weather permitting.

Foray 48B is a biological insecticide that is widely used in B.C. and is registered with the Organic Materials Review Institute. The active ingredient in Foray 48B is the naturally occurring bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk). This spray only affects moth and butterfly larvae and can be used safely around humans and other animals. Birds, household pets, fish and beneficial insects (including honey bees) are not affected.

The larva of the western hemlock looper feeds primarily on hemlock trees, but will feed on almost any foliage, including Douglas fir, amabilis fir, Sitka spruce and broad-leaved trees and shrubs. A looper outbreak has the potential to seriously harm or kill trees over large areas and can have serious impacts on mountain caribou habitat as a result of tree mortality caused by these outbreaks.

More information about the western hemlock looper is available online at:

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/publications/00198/western_hemlock_looper.htm

Contact:

Lorraine Maclauchlan
Entomologist
Thompson-Okanagan Region
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 828-4179