Plant Industry - Plant Protection Section

Gypsy Moth Program

2009 Treatments

The NCDA&CS Gypsy Moth Program treated five aerial blocks this spring.

            Map showing the location of all blocks

Knotts Island N   This spray block consists of 423 acres in Carova, which is in northeast Currituck County. The block’s northern boundary is the NC/VA state line. The southern boundary is approximately 1.6 miles north of the Carova Beach Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Station. The east side runs parallel with the Atlantic Ocean. There are approximately 100 houses located in this block and several hundred property owners. Most of the lots have not been developed. Sandy paths with intertidal dunes run throughout the eastern side of this block. The predominant treespecies are live oak and pine. Persimmon, wax myrtle, sweet gum, and blueberry may also be found.  This block received 1 application of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki.

Corolla                 This spray block consists of 388 acres just south of Carova, which is in northeast Currituck County. The northern edge is approximately 1 mile south of the Carova Beach Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Station. The east side runs parallel with the Atlantic Ocean. Approximately 60 houses, The Wash Woods Coast Guard Station, a Solid Waste Recycling Center, and the Erosion Zone Equipment Business are in this spray block. Sandy paths with intertidal dunes run throughtout the eastern side of this block. The predominant tree species are live oak and pine. Persimmon, wax myrtle, sweet gum, and blueberry are also found here.  This block received 1 application of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki.

Kitty Hawk          This spray block of 618 acres is located in the town of Kitty Hawk in Dare County. A portion of Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve is within the proposed block. The reserve has a public access trail that parallels Woods Road. This two mile hiking trail that goes through the forest is used by local residents on a daily basis. Approximately 30 houses are within the block, in addition to one mobile home park and several small businesses.  An elementary school is located at US 158 and S Dogwood Trail, approximately 1.5 miles north of the block. The landscape is a maritime deciduous forest with low, gently rolling dune ridges interspersed with wet swales. The forest contains southern red oak, water oak, willow oak, beech, hickory, and pine trees.  A power transmission line runs parallel with NC Highway 158.  This block received 1 application of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki in the center of the block, and 1 application of Gypchek on the surrounding area.

Bracey                 This spray block of 403 acres is located approximately one mile south of the Virginia state line in Warren County, NC.  The southwest corner of the block is west of Mile Marker 232 on I-85 north. There is a Rest Area outside the block at Mile Marker 231 on I-85 south. A tower is located just outside the northwest corner of the block on Rooker Dairy Road.  US 1/401 travels through the northeast corner of the block. Mac Powell Road (State Road 1211) comes off US 1/401 and runs through the eastern portion of the block. There are several paths leading off this road, some of which are gated. The block has approximately 10 houses with several pasture areas containing livestock. There are several locations with logging activities in the area. The block has several fields in cultivation as well as fallow fields and a couple of ponds. The town of Wise, NC is located approximately 2.5-3 miles south of the block. The elevation at this site ranges from 250 to 350 feet above sea level. The predominant vegetation in the area is mostly pine with red oak, white oak, sycamore, red cedar, holly, sweetgum and river birch.  This block received 2 applications of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki.

Oxford                 This proposed spray block of 1582 acres is located two miles northeast of Oxford in Granville County.  The Henderson-Oxford airport is located within the southeast corner of the block.  There are approximately 10 houses located within this proposed spray block.  State Road NC-1521 runs from the south central portion of the block to the northeast corner.  Harold Obrien Road runs from NC-1521 to the north through the block.  Pleasants Road runs from Harold Obrien Road to the west of the block.   The predominant tree species is oak, with pine, maple, poplar, sweetgum and cedar mixed in.  Several large pastures with cattle are located within the spray block along with 11 small farm ponds.  This block received 2 applications of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki.