Advertisement

Caterpillar control program set to begin in Winnipeg

Forest tent caterpillars. Johann Schumacher / Getty Images

The City of Winnipeg will soon be taking steps to control the caterpillar population.

On Tuesday, May 22 at 9:30 p.m., crews with the Insect Control Branch will begin targeting forest tent caterpillars, elm spanworms and cankerworms by spraying trees in parks and on city boulevards.

The city says once the caterpillars eat from the sprayed trees, they die two or three days later.

City crews will be in the Central Park, Colony, Daniel McIntyre, Portage – Ellice, Spence, West Alexander, Burrows Central and Robertson areas on Tuesday.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

You can see the city’s schedule on their website.

Story continues below advertisement

People can call 311 and apply for a 30-metre buffer zone to exempt their property from the spraying.

The city says the product used is Bacillus thuringiensis, subspecies kurstaki (BTK), which has been approved for safe use in Canada.

Sponsored content

AdChoices