The public is invited to attend a community open house and participate in a discussion about the 2019 gypsy moth aerial spray treatment program in Surrey.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Erma Stephenson Elementary school gymnasium, 10929 160 St., Surrey.

Members of the B.C. gypsy moth technical advisory committee will be joined by representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Ministry of Agriculture and Canadian Food Inspection Agency, as well as other experts, to answer questions and provide information about the 2018 trapping season and the planned 2019 treatment area.

Trapping and monitoring results over the past several years show clear evidence a gypsy moth population is becoming established in the proposed treatment area — 62 hectares of residential and municipal park land close to Highway 1, near the Port Mann Bridge in North Surrey.

This is the same area that was ground (hand) sprayed in 2017 and 2018. It is now apparent that the ground sprays were not effective, likely due to limited site access.

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 United States in recent years.

Learn More:

To learn more about gypsy moths, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/gypsymoth 
Or call toll-free: 1 866 917-5999

For information about the permit application, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/managing-our-forest-resources/forest-health/forest-pests/invasive-forest-pests/gypsy-moth/news

To view a map of the treatment zone, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/managing-our-forest-resources/forest-health/forest-pests/invasive-forest-pests/gypsy-moth/news

The permit application and maps are also available at:
Surrey City Hall
13450 104 Ave.
Surrey