A community open house about the 2017 gypsy moth aerial spray treatment program in Saanich will be held on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting, which will take place in the banquet room of the Howard Johnson Hotel and Suites, 4670 Elk Lake Dr., Saanich.

Members of the B.C. gypsy moth technical advisory committee, representatives from the ministries of environment and agriculture, and other experts will be in attendance to answer questions and provide information about the 2016 trapping season and the proposed 2017 treatment areas.

The 2016 gypsy moth trapping data revealed that a population of moths on Bear Hill, north of Elk Lake, in Saanich has persisted for at least three years and appears to be growing.

If left untreated, the moth could threaten endangered Garry Oak ecosystems around Elk Lake and spread to new areas of the province via vehicles and the movement of household goods and other materials.

The gypsy moth is an introduced pest species. The caterpillars feed on tree leaves and can damage forests, farms and orchards. Large gypsy moth populations defoliated sections of forests and residential areas in Ontario and the eastern U.S. in recent years.

Learn More about gypsy moths: www.gov.bc.ca/gypsymoth or call toll-free: 1 866 917-5999