05/15/19 – 11:34 A.M.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture will start aerial gypsy moth treatments in Hancock County this week. The treatments are administered using low-flying aircraft that fly just over the tree tops. This will be done in the early morning hours.

The department is using Foray which is a natural bacterium found in the soil that interferes with the caterpillars’ feeding cycles. They are also using Gypchek, a virus that affects only the gypsy moth caterpillars and has no effect on beneficial insects. These treatments are not harmful to humans, pets, birds or fish.