Attack of the Light Brown Apple Moth!

The light brown apple moth has been getting a lot of press lately, mainly because of the State of California's plans to spray over the Bay Area in an attempt to eradicate the little critter (pictured here). While the government says that there's nothing wrong with the chemical used in the spraying, many people aren't so sure. Apparently the plan is to use an airborne pherimone called CheckMate to confuse the male moths and prevent them from breeding, however, there's some contention as to whether this pherimone and other stuff in the spray is actually harmful. Many people who live in areas that have already been sprayed have reported various health problems after the fact, although the state maintains that none of them can be linked to the spraying. Our friend who lives in Pacific Grove, which was sprayed last fall, even went so far as to spend the night in a hotel in Carmel Valley in an effort to avoid the spray; he wasn't taking any chances.

There's even some controversy over whether the light brown apple moth, which is native to Australia, is even a threat to California's crops. It's been living in Hawaii for over 100 years, and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture has even declared that it has "not been a significant pest in Hawaii."

Locally, there's quite an effort to put a halt to the spraying. The Marin IJ has been covering the controversy extensively, and it appears that most people, organizations, and municipalities in Marin are opposed to the whole thing. If you're interested, there's a "Moms March to Stop the Spray" on Saturday, May 10, which starts at the Corte Madera Town Center at 10 am (meet at 9:30) and goes to Corte Madera Town Park for a rally. You can download the flyer at the bottom of this post. Apparently, Governer Schwarzenegger has ordered the spraying postponed until further tests are done, but this doesn't mean it won't eventually happen.

Personally, I don't think it's a good idea. What are your thoughts about the spray? Is it a risk? Is the whole thing overblown? Post a comment here and let us know!