I was just made aware of a situation in our community that troubles me greatly. I feel I might have to turn in my environmental steward card for missing this!
Please take a look and take action if you are so inspired- Thank you!
Since 2000 and for several years since then including 2013 and 2014, Fairfax Co., Virginia, has conducted an aerial (while not following guidelines set by the insecticide company to account for DRIFT) and ground insecticide spraying program that targets a native moth caterpillar called the fall cankerworm(little green inchworm). Unfortunately, all butterfly and moth caterpillars that are out at the time of spraying, or that emerge while the insecticide persists on leaves or needles, are vulnerable to being killed by the insecticide. Caterpillars are an important food source for birds that migrate through Fairfax Co. and for birds that breed and raise their young here, and also provide food for beetles, bats and other wildlife. It should be noted that the spraying is conducted during peak migration season for songbirds--they arrive hungry and tired, and are following historically-reliable insect supplies up the East Coast. We have put together a list of 65 breeding birds and 39 migrating birds that we believe could be harmed by the insecticide spraying, based on the presence of the birds in our area at the time of spraying as well as their diet and foraging habits: http://www.audubonva.org/images/pdfs/FCWAppCBirds.pdf
(This year, the spraying took place on April 28 and May 1, 2014.)
The native caterpillar targeted by the spraying program poses no risk to human health or safety but unfortunately is perceived as a "nuisance" pest.
Also, while the insecticide used is made from a naturally occurring soil bacterium, the commercial product of this insecticide is comprised primarily of undisclosed, secret ingredients (87%). (More info on the Audubon web page.)
This is a budget issue- the county has a line item amount that is designated to the Forestry dept. every year to pay for the spraying. The money is coming from property tax!! I don't want to pay for the killing of the caterpillars in the Mount Vernon area!!
Please write a letter or call your county supervisor
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government/board/board-of-supervisors-flyer.pdf
to ask them to stop spraying insecticides for a "nuisance" caterpillar in Fairfax County. They are lacking research and any knowledge on how this is impacting the biodiversity and food chains of our ecosystem. The research they present in answer to questions actually proves the detrimental effect it has on bird populations. This program was implemented to placate a few members of the community who were complaining about the caterpillar in their back yards.
Various conservation organizations oppose this County insecticide spraying program:
•Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
•North American Butterfly Association
•Friends of Dyke Marsh
•Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
•Friends of Mason Neck State Park
•Friends of Meadowood
•Northern Virginia Bird Club
Thank you so much for your time and consideration! Let's make our voices count! I will follow up with more information as it becomes available to me.
a photo of a magnolia warbler eating a fall cankerworm. The photo was taken on May 12, 2013 by Dr. Ed Eder
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