A plane sprays insecticide over a Kamloops neighbourhood as the sun rises.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Peter Olsen
May 10, 2024 - 6:00 AM
A plane spraying a biological insecticide could be seen flying over Kamloops neighbourhoods at the break of dawn this week, and a photographer captured stunning images of it as the colours of the sky changed with the sunrise.
It was the first of two aerial sprays planned for the Tournament Capital through the BC Ministry of Forests, with the second one scheduled for next week.
The program is aimed at eradicating the invasive spongy moth and includes several other cities in the province including West Kelowna, though the spray date there has not been announced.
Formerly known as gypsy moths, invasive spongy moths feed on tree leaves posing a risk to BC’s ecosystems and economy, according to the Ministry of Forests.
This photo shows a side view of a plane spraying trees in Kamloops at dawn.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Peter Olsen
The treatment uses a biological insecticide called Foray 48B that is already in use on organic farms. The active ingredient bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki is naturally present in urban, agricultural and forest soils throughout the province.
“It only affects the stomachs of moth and butterfly caterpillars, and is specific to their digestive systems. The treatment has been approved for the control of spongy moth larvae in Canada since 1961,” the ministry said.
If you have interesting photographs of your town you want to share, send them to news@infonews.ca.
A plane flies low over Kamloops dropping an insecticide to irradicate the invasive spongy moth.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Peter Olsen
The morning sun peaks over a mountain in Kamloops behind a play doing aerial spraying.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Peter Olsen
The sun is beginning to brighten the morning sky in Kamloops as a plane drops insecticide.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Peter Olsen
A plane spraying insecticide is shown against a bright blue sky in Kamloops.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Peter Olsen
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