“This is not blanket spraying,” said Glanbrook councillor Dave Mitchell. “But it will get the areas where the infestation is, such as the (Glanbrook) landfill area. This is a very positive move.”

Earlier this week Glanbrook residents descended upon the city’s public works committee arguing the city’s proposal to spray for the destructive gypsy moth in only the urban area at a cost of about $450,000 was ridiculous.

“There are so many (moths in Binbrook) you could hear them munching,” said Anne Dunham of Binbrook, who oversees a forest of trees.“They would migrate to the areas you are spraying.”

Added Gary Birch, a former Glanbrook Township councillor: “It’s ridiculous to not carry out a gypsy moth spray in the rural areas.”

Barbara Arbuckle of Glanbrook urged councillors not to divide the urban and rural residents with the proposed spraying plan.

“Enough is enough,” she told councillors. “The gypsy moths don’t know about the division (between urban and rural). We’ve been fighting them for over a year.”

Under the revised program, the city will spray an extra 585 hectares in the Hall Road Area in Binbrook and the Kerncliff Area in Flamborough. Both areas were identified as having a high gypsy moth egg count, which was done last fall, and a potential “severe” defoliation forecast for the spring and summer.

Flamborough councillor Robert Pasuta said he wants the city to include the Greensville area, and the northwest part of Flamborough, as part of the spray area where residents are starting to experience severe gypsy moth problems.

The city is already planning on spraying areas in wards 1, 12, and 13 at a cost of $450,000. The areas include Woodland and Hamilton cemeteries, the Dundas Driving Park, Park Drive, Governor’s Road, Sulphur Springs and Lover’s Lane area, Lime Kiln Road and Montgomery Drive, and Wilson, Fiddler’s Green and the Hatton Area in Ancaster.

The city is partnering with the Hamilton and Halton conservation authorities, the Royal Botanical Gardens, the municipalities of Oakville and Halton Region for the spray program. The HCA last month approved spraying its properties in Dundas and Ancaster at a cost of about $60,000.

An open house on the spraying program has been scheduled in Ancaster at the Old Town Hall on April 16 at 7 p.m. Mr. Mitchell wants another open house held in the Glanbrook area as well during the same week to inform residents.

All of the areas identified for spraying had “severe” gypsy moth egg mass densities, with the potential for significant tree defoliation.

The cost of the aerial spraying is predicated on Transport Canada formally approving the spray operator to use a twin engine helicopter to spray the Btk, a naturally occurring, soil borne bacterium that only targets the larvae of moths and butterflies. Btk works in the digestive system of the larvae and it has minimal effects on humans.

Joe Meating of BioForest Technologies Inc. , a consultant hired by the city to study the gypsy moth infestation, said Btk is a “soft” pesticide, that will mean even after spraying, some trees will die, and a few moths will survive.

“Not as many if you don’t spray,” he said. “We are out to protect as many trees as possible.”

Mr. Meating said even after spraying takes place, the gypsy moth should return to the area damaging trees within eight years.

He said when the spraying is done, people are encourage to stay indoors and close windows as a precaution. There could also be a slight film left on cars and barbecues, which is easily removed by washing it off.

The idea is to begin spraying during the first part of May, with another spray application five days later, he said.

Even though the infestation is affecting communities across southern Ontario, the provincial government has yet to authorize any money to pay for a spraying program. Scott Stewart, general manager for public works said the city has sent two letters to the province asking for funding.

With Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Pasuta along with other councillors encouraging city staff to look at other areas of the city to spray, the cost is expected to escalate.

“The province should pay for it,” said Mr. Mitchell. “It has to step up to the plate. We can’t afford to lose these trees.”