The City of Winnipeg’s insect control branch will continue spraying for pest caterpillars Monday, targeting spring and fall cankerworms and elm spanworms.
The program began Sunday and will continue Monday at 9:30 p.m. in insect management areas 10 and 11, made up of central St. Boniface, Dufresne, north St. Boniface, Tissot, Norwood east and Norwood west.
The city said this season’s spraying, which uses a substance called bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki, also known as BTK, will take place from Sunday to Thursday during the evening, weather permitting.
The spraying will focus on boulevards, parks and cemeteries, where the insects are causing defoliation on the trees.
“Current surveillance information indicates that the tree pest caterpillar larvae are feeding on the leaves causing many small holes known as ‘shot hole’ damage,” said Ken Nawolsky, superintendent of insect control, in a news release.
“Winnipeggers can expect to see moderate defoliation in some parts of the city this May and June based on surveillance information.”
Residents can apply for a 30-metre buffer zone to exempt their property from the program by providing the city with ID that proves it’s their home.
