Gypsy moth spraying begins

A low-flying yellow plane sprayed Park Forest Tuesday in the first assault on the gypsy moth population in Centre County.

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In addition to Park Forest, the fixed wing aircraft was used to spray the western part of the Tow Hill area Tuesday, as well as state game lands in Halfmoon Township and the eastern part of Mount Nittany.

According to the county Web site, Mount Nittany was scheduled to be sprayed today, between 6 and 11 a.m. In addition, spraying of Penn State's University Park campus — this spraying is being undertaken by Penn State, and is not part of the state program — was to begin this morning about 5:30 a.m. The campus spraying was to be undertaken by helicopter, starting at College Avenue and moving north, to finish at the White Golf Course area around 9 a.m.

Most other residential spraying being done under the state program in Centre County will be done by helicopter, according to the county, and is not scheduled to begin until Thursday. The spraying could be delayed by weather or by the larval development of the caterpillar — spraying too early in the development will make the spray less effective, according to the county's Web site.