Gypsy moth spraying starts Tuesday
Aerial spraying for Gypsy moths is scheduled to start Tuesday in Lake in the Hills.
Low-flying helicopters will spray two applications of an insecticide in the areas of Pyott Road, Algonquin Road, Lake Drive, and Willow Street, according to a news release from village officials.
The village arborist and representatives from the Illinois Department of Agriculture determined that the area was one of the hardest hit by the pests and would produce the most effective treatment.
The insecticide, known as Btk, is a naturally occurring soil bacteria that causes Gypsy moths to stop eating and die. It is generally not harmful to people, pets, or other wild species.
Spraying usually begins in the early morning, but it can happen at any time of day when the wind is light and there is no rain in the immediate forecast.
Gypsy moths eat the foliage off hardwood trees, which can weaken and eventually kill the trees, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
