Here is a short video I made during my summer operation to fight the spruce budworm. This is still one of the best flying hours to my credit. Taken off at 4:45 am for mission up to 10:30am, eat went to sleep for another mission from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. Being in the air at sunrise and sunset in the most beautiful place in Quebec was not difficult despite the little rest. We were hiring about 30 aerial fighter as; Air Tractor 502 & 802 , Thrush SR24 and even dromadaire, I was on flying on the Cessna 310 as bird dog during the operation.

How does it look like?

What is spruce budworm?

The spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens), is the most destructive insect of coniferous stands in North America. This indigenous defoliator is found in all Canadian provinces, from British Columbia to Newfoundland. In Quebec, spruce budworm consumes mainly annual foliage of balsam fir, white spruce, and, to a lesser degree, red spruce and black spruce. In the epidemic period, it can also be found on other resinous species.

How do we fight?

Contrary to popular belief, the goal of these programs is not to eliminate spruce budworm but to reduce populations to protect at least 50% of the annual foliage.

Since 1987, the only insecticide used in Quebec against this insect is Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki, commonly known as Btk. This biological insecticide, which acts only on lepidopteran larvae, is known to be safe for human health and the environment. When ingested in sufficient amounts, Btk paralyzes the intestines of insects that can no longer feed themselves and die a few hours later. Btkque is not sprayed in areas eligible for protection programs. The areas are selected according to forest criteria (stand vulnerability), operational (topography and area) and entomological (larval levels) very strict.

The territories to be protected are then divided into sectors to be treated. Forestry workers collect branch samples for the laboratory. In the laboratory they then evaluates the stage of progression of the larva. The larva is hidden in the thorns of the spruce, when it hatches, it goes out to eat the buds to make its forces and begin its transformation to butterfly. It is exactly at this point that the Btk must be applied.

Too soon or too late there will be no effect and defoliation will generate billions in resource losses.

Ref : MFFP.qc.ca