The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations plans to aerially treat up to 845 hectares of sub-alpine forest to reduce populations of the two-year cycle budworm.

The proposed treatment locations are within the Mount Tom Research Forest east of Quesnel. 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/2yr_budworm_Spray_Program_2012.htm

The biological agent Foray 48B will be applied by helicopter on or about July 3-13, 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 affects only 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 two-year cycle budworm is native to B.C. In its larval stage, it feeds on needles, buds and new cones. Feeding on older foliage does not occur until the second spring of the life cycle, which is when trees are most heavily damaged. The crowns of affected trees turn red-brown during the summer. A two-year cycle budworm outbreak has the potential to seriously harm or kill trees over large areas.

Contact:

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