Hot, dry summer could accelerate North Shore looper moth outbreak
North shore residents and visitors should brace themselves for the early arrival of a pest that has plagued the region's forests for the last two summers.
It’s believed that Metro Vancouver’s hot dry weather is accelerating the looper moth’s life cycle.
Most loopers are currently in caterpillar stage, eating their way through forests and turning swaths of hemlock, cedar and douglas fir trees a reddish-brown colour.
“There will be some areas where it’s more severe and more noticeable,” said provincial forest entomologist Jeanne Robert, who predicts the worst-hit areas could see 30 to 60 per cent of trees fall victim to the looper infestation.
“We will see some trees probably dying from being defoliated repeatedly,” Robert said.
Local resident Ryan Younger is concerned at the amount of damage the looper larvae are causing.
“It starts in the treetops and you can see red and dead treetops, and starting to brown out all the way down,” he said.
While it’s too late for this year, Younger would like to see the province launch an aerial spray program next spring to combat future looper moth infestations.
“We just can’t sit on our hands and watch and assess or the mountains will be completely red and dead,” said Younger.
Robert says there is a safe bacterial spray that targets the moth larvae.
“When we tend to use that particular treatment, though, is at the beginning of an outbreak that our trapping results indicate will be severe and widespread,” said Robert.
Because this summer is expected to be the culmination of a three-year breeding cycle, Robert says now is not the time for such a program.
“This particular outbreak, although it’s concerning and we are definitely monitoring keeping and eye on it, is not something that merits a spray program at this stage,” Robert said.
The looper moth outbreak was most severe in early September last year, but the moths could emerge from their cocoons in August this summer.
“Soon, within a few weeks, they will take flight and turn into moths and fly away and spread their devastation farther afield and lay their eggs for the next season,” said Younger.
He’s worried if nothing is done, the looper will keep decimating the forest.
“There is already going to be a lot of tree mortality, but if we take action, we can mitigate it a lot,” Younger said. “If we do nothing, I guarantee there will be a much larger scale die-off.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.