WINONA, Minn. – The state cautioned people living between County Road 16 and Pier Ridge Road to keep their windows shut from dawn Saturday into the morning. An aircraft will be misting 1,100 acres on Pier Ridge section in extreme southeast Winona County for gypsy moths. The ridge is remote with hardly anyone living there, and the organically certified spray is not toxic to humans. For moths, not so much, which is the whole idea. Even so, Pier Ridge is a place for campers, hikers and other outdoors people to avoid for a couple hours while the mist settles. The misting begins about dawn. the state Agriculture Department said. The aircraft will buzz the area in row-crop patterns. There will be a second misting in two weeks.
Pest profile
Gypsy moths are an invasive insect. Larvae consume the leaves of 500 species of trees, shrubs and plants. The gypsy moth finds hardwood trees especially tasty. The state Agriculture Department monitors infestations and sprays to disrupt early and mid-spring breeding. Infestations spread rapidly because the minuscule larvae are carried by winds.
Spray zone
Near New Hartford Township, roughly midway between Dresbach and Money Creek. This one of 13 Minnesota sites being targeted this spring. Others in southeast Minnesota:
> Winona County: Dakota, Homer Ridge, Pleasant Hill, Wiscoy, all late May, June.
> Houston County: Jefferson, Mound Prairie, Brownsville, late June.
> Wabasha County: Weaver, late June.
Gypsy moth. Adult males are brownish, females whitish. Generally are a little longer than an inch. Females possess fully formed wings but do not fly. Males fly in rapid zigzag patterns but are capable of direct flight.