Time to End County Insecticide Spraying Programs Targeting Native Insects

Photo by Ed Eder of common yellowthroat eating fall cankerworm caterpillar
Target: 

Fairfax County and Prince William County, Virginia

Signatures:

 767

767
1,000
We've got 767 signatures, help us get to 1,000

Petition

I call on Fairfax County and Prince William County, Virginia, to immediately terminate their broadcast insecticide spraying programs targeting a native moth caterpillar called the fall cankerworm, also referred to as the "inchworm."

I call on Fairfax County and Prince William County, Virginia, to immediately terminate their broadcast insecticide spraying programs targeting a native moth caterpillar called the fall cankerworm, also referred to as the "inchworm."

Petition background

Beginning in 2000 and for several years since then including 2013 and 2014, Fairfax County, Virginia has sprayed insecticide by helicopter and truck over thousands of acres in the county targeting a native moth caterpillar called the fall cankerworm, also affectionately referred to as the “inchworm.” As a native, the fall cankerworm has evolved over the millennia with our trees and wildlife. The insecticide applied is deadly to all exposed butterfly and moth caterpillars, not just the native target.  The County estimates that 80 – 90% of fall cankerworm populations are eliminated in the spray areas, but does not measure the impacts on other butterfly and moth caterpillars. Fall cankerworm caterpillars are an especially important food source to migrating and breeding birds. Insecticide spraying takes place during peak songbird migration from mid-April to mid-May. Birds are also beginning their breeding season at the time of the insecticide spraying. Chickadees feed their young a diet more than half comprised of caterpillars like the fall cankerworm alone. Fall cankerworm caterpillars are an ideal food source for birds because they are smooth, without hair or spines, and lack chemical defenses. Adult moths are food for Eastern screech owls and other wildlife like the Eastern red bat, which is a moth specialist. Prince William County also conducts a broadcast insecticide-spraying program targeting the native fall cankerworm.

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We signed: Time to End County Insecticide Spraying Programs Targeting Native Insects

stacia
Englewood, CO
Sat, 2015-07-11 10:04
#757
Mark
Arlington, VA
Fri, 2015-07-10 16:33
#756
Stephanie
Woodbridge, VA
Fri, 2015-07-10 11:25
#755
pat
oak hill, VA
Thu, 2015-07-09 19:12
#754
Holly
Spotsylvania, VA
Thu, 2015-07-09 18:50
#753
John
Newport news, VA
Thu, 2015-07-09 12:21
#752
Rose
Chespeake, VA
Thu, 2015-07-09 11:38
#751
Jenny
Berryville, VA
Thu, 2015-07-09 06:16
#750
allison
ware neck, VA
Thu, 2015-07-09 05:48
#749
Karen
Falls Church, VA
Thu, 2015-07-09 00:45
#748
Thank you for your interest in this issue. This petition has expired and is no longer accepting signatures.
Thank you for your interest in this issue. This petition has expired and is no longer accepting signatures.