Chemical Control Agents Used Against the Gypsy Moth Essay -- Gypsy Mot

Chemical Control Agents Used Against the Gypsy Moth The capital of Italy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a highly disruptive species that can, and has played a distinctive region in the lives of more organisms. Included in these organisms are various deciduous trees and shrubs, wildlife species that share the same purlieu, and even humans. The gypsy moth destroys the beauty of woodlands via defoliation, alters ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and disrupts our own lives. It should hence come as no surprise that the U.S. division of Agriculture and many other agencies have taken huge steps to help lower populations of this small, yet persistent species. In an effort to control these overwhelming populations, quintuple chemical control agents have been used to suppress and/or root out the gypsy moth. Following, is a discussion of each chemical and their potentially dangerous effects on humans. The first chemical control agent is vitamin B complex thuringiensis var. kurstaki (B.t. k.) a bacteria isolated from diseased silk worms and flour moths. The potency of B.t.k. varies among insects and quickly destroys lepidopteran larvae within approximately one hour of ingestion. More than 1 zillion pounds of B.t.k. is applied annually in the U.S., primarily via aerial spraying, but as well by ground spraying. It does not persist long in the environment (losing its activity by 50% within 1-3 days), has not been seen to replicate in gypsy moth predators, and does not accumulate in the soil. There seems to be a low level of concern regarding human B.t.k. exposure, although B.t.k. formulations have caused eye, skin, and respiratory package irritations, especially in ground workers. Some claims reveal that a legal age of these workers were not equipped with ... ...8) U.S. Department of Agriculture, woodwind Service, Northeastern Area severalise and Private Forestry, Summary Final Environmental clash Statement, Radnor, PA, 1995. 9) U.S. Department of Agricultur e, Forest Service and Animal and Plant wellness Inspection Service, Gypsy Moth prohibition and Eradication Projects, 1985. 10) U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Gypsy Moth Managment in the U.S. a cooperative approach. Environmental Impact Statement Appendix F Human Health Risk Assessment, 1995. 11) Wargo, Phillip M., Defoliation by the Gypsy Moth How it Hurts Your Tree, U.S. Department of Agriculture, No. 223, 1974. 12) White, William B., Hubbard, Schneeberger, and Raimo, Technological Developments in Aerial Spraying, U.S. Department of Agriculture, No. 535, 1974.