FISHER MEASURE TO COMBAT GYPSY MOTHS ADVANCES

FISHER MEASURE TO COMBAT GYPSY MOTHS ADVANCES 
Measure Would Help Municipalities Fight Gypsy Moth Defoliation

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman Douglas H. Fisher sponsored to help municipalities combat the spread of gypsy moths in New Jersey was released today from the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

New Jersey experienced an alarming increase in defoliation from gypsy moth caterpillars in 2007, devastating 320,610 woodland acres. Officials worry that 2008 will be even worse as the migrating caterpillars spread and strip more trees of leaves.

"Gypsy moths are an absolute plague upon the landscape," said Fisher (D-Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester). "Southern counties were particularly hit hard in 2007 by new gypsy moth populations. We need to give municipalities greater leeway to put resources to work to eradicate this defoliating scourge."

The legislation (A-1913) would provide an exemption under the municipal caps law to allow municipalities to appropriate funds to pay for the abatement and suppression of gypsy moths to protect plant life on public and private lands and premises.

Many municipalities did not participate in programs to spray for gypsy moths last year because they were uncertain of receiving federal matching funds by the deadlines to submit their local budgets to the Department of Community Affairs. Town officials were concerned they would exceed their municipal spending cap limits if they were stuck with the entire cost of the program.

The federal government did eventually provide 50 percent of the cost to towns that participated in the gypsy moth cooperative suppression program last year but the funding authorization came after the deadline to submit local budgets for many towns.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, is one of North America's most devastating forest pests. A non-native insect species, it was introduced to the U.S. in 1869 by a French scientist living in Massachusetts.
 
In 1889, the first gypsy moth outbreak occurred. The predatory insect devours foliage of hundreds of species of plants in North America, with oaks and aspens being it's most common hosts. By 1987, gypsy moths were established throughout the Northeast.

During heavy infestations, competition for food can drive the caterpillar to attack almost any tree or shrub.

Depending on the degree of infestation, tree damage ranges from light to almost complete defoliation. Most hardwood trees can survive a moderate degree of defoliation, but repeated attacks by the gypsy moth can fatally weaken a tree.

Fisher said the bill was originally proposed in response to the numerous resolutions and letters received from Atlantic County towns requesting assistance, including Absecon, Atlantic City, Buena Vista Township, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township, and Port Republic.

The bill was released by a vote of 4 to 0 with one abstention. It now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

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