FREDERICTON (CNB) – Weather permitting, a limited aerial biological control program will begin the week of July 4-9 on several blocks of Crown forest between 20 kilometres and 30 kilometres south of Sussex. The purpose of the program is to address an unprecedented infestation of balsam fir sawfly.

Monitoring of insect development has identified this period as the opportune time to begin the spray program using the federally-registered biological insecticide Abietiv. Sawfly larvae will be entering their feeding stage when they will be most susceptible to treatment with Abietiv, which is based on a naturally occurring virus of the sawfly.

Spraying operations will be carried out by Forest Protection Ltd. under the direction of the Department of Natural Resources. Application is weather dependent and takes into account visibility, wind speed, precipitation, and humidity.

The four blocks to be treated cover about 10,000 hectares and spraying will take about one week to complete, weather permitting.

This information will be updated as required.

LINK:
           
●    Department of Natural Resources: www.gnb.ca/naturalresources
           


30-06-11