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Key Note Speaker: Eric T. Lacroix
World's Largest Aerial Treatment Program - Quebec, Canada
Eric T. Lacroix is Managing Director of the Society for the Protection of Forests against Insects and Diseases (SOPFIM). He has more than 25 years of experience in the field of the environment and geosciences, having worked for several Quebec engineering consulting firms and four (4) years as director of the environment at SOPFIM. His professional experiences have allowed him to work across Canada as well as in the Canadian North where he has carried out several environmental site assessment and rehabilitation projects. He holds a bachelor's degree in microbiology, a master's degree in environmental science and an executive master's degree in business administration.
Laurel Downs: The Nature Conservancy
Social Media Message Frame Testing
Social media can be a tumultuous place for outreach; finding the right words to effectively communicate issues on forest pests can be tricky. We compare emotional/protective language with objective language on Facebook to see if one produces more engagement than the other.
Laurel Downs works for The Nature Conservancy on the Forest Pest and Pathogen Program as the Forest Health Conservation Coordinator. She is the program coordinator for the Don't Move Firewood educational outreach campaign.
Dr. Ksenia Onufrieva: Virginia Tech Department of Entomology
Efficacy of mating disruption treatment against spongy moth applied using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Our objective was to develop a UAV-based mating disruption treatment method to control spongy moth, one of the most destructive forest pests in the US. Collaborating with ISCA Technologies (Riverside, CA, USA) and Aksata (Kfar Saba, Israel), we conducted a series of trial applications of spongy moth pheromone formulated as SPLAT® GM-organic.
We evaluated treatment efficacy for 10 weeks using the release-recapture method and compared it to the efficacy of the same treatment applied aerially using a piloted fixed-wing aircraft. Our findings indicate that UAV-applied mating disruption treatments achieve similar efficacy to treatments applied using piloted aircraft (with over a 90% reduction in male spongy moth catches in pheromone-baited traps compared to untreated control plots for at least 10 weeks).
Given the widespread use of the SPLAT® matrix in various formulations, our project's results may hold relevance for mating disruption control strategies targeting other pests, thereby contributing to the advancement of integrated pest management practices.
Ksenia Onufrieva holds an M.S. degree from Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia, and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, USA. She is currently a Research Scientist at Virginia Tech, where she works on optimizing spongy moth management as part of the National Slow the Spread of the Spongy Moth Program. Ksenia’s research focuses on chemical ecology and supports ecological strategies for managing invasive species and enhancing forest health.
Annie Means: Ohio Department of Agriculture
Pesticide Applications With Drones
Regulatory update for pesticide applications made with UAVs in the state of Ohio.
Annie Means is an Ohio State University alumnus. Pesticide and Fertilizer Regulatory Inspector for Ohio Department of Ag for five years.
Jason Williams: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
NOTAMs and TFRs
Jason will be presenting information on Notices to Air Missions and how they can be used to assist in airspace deconfliction for aerial spray operations. I will also briefly explain why Temporary Flight Restrictions do not apply to Aerial Spraying.
Jason Williams is a retired Army Helicopter pilot, working with PA DCNR for 11 years as the Aircraft Operations and Safety Specialist focusing on Forest Fire and Forest Health aviation activities.
Veronica Ledezma: Customs and Border Protection
CBPAS FSMC Inspection Process Video
This video is CBPASs inspection protocol from start to finish for spongy moth. It is an excellent video with Chief Dean Duval as the presenter.
Veronica Ledezma is from the Rio Grande Valley located in deep South Texas along the Mexican border. She has a Bachelors degree in General Biology and a minor in Criminal Justice & worked as a Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Technician and PPQ Officer in Laredo, Texas. She transferred to the Pharr/Hidalgo Port of Entry located in the Rio Grande Valley in 2001. In 2003 when they merged into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and became CBP Agriculture Specialists (CBPAS). She was a Supervisory CBPAS for three years, then moved to DHS CBP Headquarters in Washington, DC as an Agriculture Operations Manager (AOM) for Agriculture Programs and Trade Liaison (APTL). She is currently a senior AOM at DHS CBP APTL HQ with a total of 25 years of government service.
veronica.a.ledezma@dhs.gov
Scott Hartman: Deputy County Administrator McHenry County, Illinois
A local perspective on spongy moths
At the local level, spongy moth infestations can be an emotional issue for affected constituents and a political issue for local officials. This presentation will walk through one county’s immersion into a localized spongy moth population explosion and the challenge of balancing the need to respond to citizen complaints and expectations against a gamut of public policy considerations. This presentation will provide insight and perspective on the roles local governments and communities can have in addressing spongy moth populations.
Scott Hartman is the Deputy County Administrator for McHenry County, Illinois and has served in this role for the past 10 years. He has over 28 years’ experience in the local public administration profession including serving in City Manager / City Administrator roles for several municipalities in the Chicagoland area.
Scott has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL) and a Bachelor’s Degree from Thiel College (Greenville, PA).
Baode Wang
Solar powered portable UV light traps for detection and surveillance of the flighted spongy moth complex
We developed portable UV-A light traps powered by solar-charged lithium-ion batteries to detect and monitor Lymantria moths. These traps effectively captured both male and female Lymantria dispar asiatica (a Flighted Spongy Moth Complex subspecies) in various locations. While less effective than pheromone traps for capturing male Lymantria dispar moths, our light traps show promise for FSMC monitoring, particularly in pinpointing smaller areas where egg-laying female moths may be present. Ongoing research aims to enhance target moth capture while reducing unintended by catch
Dr. Wang is a Supervisory Entomologist at the USDA APHIS PPQ Science and Technology’s Forest Pest Methods Laboratory in Otis, Massachusetts. With a PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dr. Wang has spent the past three decades researching methods to mitigate the risks of invasive insects, particularly those associated with international trade.
Dr. Wang’s work focuses on developing strategies to prevent the spread of invasive pests through wood packaging materials, such as the Asian longhorned beetle, and ocean-bound vessels, such as insects in the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex. His research also extends to agricultural and forestry products. One of his current projects involves developing improved surveillance methods for the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex, especially for female moths.
Baode.Wang@USDA.GOV
Jim Altemus
Aerial Precision Guidance Data and Flight Following
In this presentation, we will talk about the differences between aerial precision guidance systems and real time flight following. Jim will also give a few examples of popular systems that are currently being used and how these systems can benefit accuracy and safety of aerial suppression programs.
Forest Health Program Specialist with the PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry since November 2022. Before that, a Forester with the Forest Health Division (PA DCNR BOF) from 2015-2022, and a Forester with the Inventory and Monitoring Section (PA DCNR BOF) from 2014-2015.
JAMALTEMUS@PA.GOV
Ann Hajek
Spongy Moth: A tale of two pathogens
The spongy moth and associated larval pathogens (a fungus and virus) and parasitoids (mainly 4 species) have all been introduced to North America. The virus was the dominant natural enemy until the fungus was first seen in 1989, and subsequently spread, outcompeting the virus. The fungus and parasitoids provide significant mortality in low density populations while in outbreaks, all three types of natural enemies are active. The virus is mass produced for spongy moth control in environmentally sensitive areas. While the fungus is not mass produced, cadavers of larvae dying from infections have been collected and moved to accelerate spread.
Dr. Hajek has been on Cornell University campus for 40 years; 10 working in a research institute and 30 as a professor in the Department of Entomology and she recently retired. Throughout her career, she conducted research on insect parasites and pathogens, principally working on fungal and viral pathogens and parasitic nematodes. Dr. Hajek has worked in a diversity of invasive insect systems but her most long-term and intensive research has been investigating pathogens of Lymantria dispar. Her work on the L. dispar system has ranged from molecular and cellular to organismal and studies of epizootiology and ecology.
aeh4@cornell.edu
Grace Amponsah
The Impact of Weather on the Accuracy of Phenological Predictions for the European Spongy Moth
The accuracy of the spongy moth life stage (GLS) model has not been evaluated on a large geographic scale. Using a multi-year dataset, we tested the model's performance by comparing GLS predictions of male moth flight with observed captures across the invasion's leading edge, which includes various climatic conditions. We also examined how abiotic factors like temperature and precipitation influence the model's prediction accuracy. Our results offer insights into the model's spatiotemporal robustness and highlight factors that affect its performance. These findings have important implications for improving the effectiveness of STS interventions.
Grace Efua Amponsah is a research assistant and a master's student in the Ohio State University. She is working towards optimizing the management of spongy moths exacerbated by climate change in the United States. She holds a licentiate degree in Agricultural sciences and natural resource management, emphasizing sustainable agriculture from EARTH University in Costa Rica. In her free time, she enjoys kizomba dancing and cooking and photography.
amponsah.37@osu.edu
Sayesha Khanna
Meeting citizen concerns with hard data: does Btk application reduce biodiversity? Preliminary insights from 2024 studies in Minnesota
This study examines the potential non-target effects of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (BtK) applications on insect biodiversity in Minnesota. In 2024, data were collected from 16 sites—8 treated with BtK and 8 controls—focusing on lepidopteran abundance and richness, as well as arthropod populations. Preliminary analyses show no significant impact of BtK on non-target Lepidoptera or overall insect diversity. These findings suggest that BtK application does not significantly reduce biodiversity, providing evidence to address public concerns. Ongoing research will explore longer-term effects and broader ecological implications.
Sayesha Khanna’s academic journey has taken her across continents, from her Bachelor’s in India to earning a European Commission-funded scholarship in Plant Health, which allowed her to study in Spain, France, and the Netherlands. Currently, she is a PhD student in Brian Aukema’s lab at the University of Minnesota, where her research focuses on phenology of the spongy moth and investigating the non-target effects of BtK sprays used in its control. Having just entered her second year of PhD, she is eager to dive deeper into understanding how ecological systems respond to these pest management strategies.
Dylan Parry
Are lab-strain spongy moth an accurate proxy for natural populations?
Ecologists have long used the so-called New Jersey Standard Strain (NJSS) spongy moth as a surrogate for wild populations in a wide array of ecological, toxicological, and physiological experiments. This strain has been under continuous culture by USDA-APHIS for more than half a century, is highly inbred, and has undergone accidental and deliberate selection for a variety of traits advantageous in mass captive rearing, but surprisingly few studies have evaluated its suitability as a proxy for wild spongy moth. In comparisons, we found that NJSS spongy moth behavior, growth, development, phenology, and cold tolerance all departed significantly from with wild sourced populations. Despite the convenience and genetic homogeneity, researchers should more carefully consider their questions before using NJSS as a stand in for natural populations.
Dylan is an ecologist specializing in biological invasions and insect conservation. He has worked extensively with spongy moth, Sirex woodwasp, and other insect invaders as well as both woody and perennial invasive plants. Ongoing projects in his lab include efforts to understand the resurgence of browntail moth, biological control of invasive plants, linkages between invasion and climate change, synergism between exotic European and Asian earthworms and plant invaders, and efforts to understand adaptive change in spongy moth populations. He also teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on the ecology and management of invasions.
Jacob Ninio, AKSATA
Drone applications
Working with Virginia Tech's (VT) Department of Entomology, Aksata (formerly known as Agridrones) provides a comprehensive system to precisely spread a pheromone-based mating disruption product (by others) to help combat Gipsy Moths in forestry. VT will share the outcome of the test whereas Aksata will share how our precision technology enables use of advanced products to achieve these great results along with future potential uses in other spaces within the agricultural industry.
Jacob has carved an entrepreneurial career leading niche operation businesses in competitive spaces propelling young companies toward substantial growth. As the CEO of Aksata, Jacob is spearheading the company’s pivotal second growth phase as it transitions from research and development, including rigorous physical trials, to aggressive market penetration. Before leading Aksata, Jacob was an early-stage founder in the company and most notably, prior to joining Aksata Jacob has a successful history of expanding small businesses using technology to optimize production efficiency while scaling operations.
Patrick Engelken, USFS
STS Program Update
Kathryn Bronsky, USDA APHIS
APHIS Update
Kathryn Bronsky is a National Policy Manager with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). She is responsible for safeguarding U.S. agriculture and natural resources against the entry, establishment, and spread of economically and environmentally significant pests, including forest pests such as the Asian longhorned beetle and spongy moth. Since 2005, she has worked on invasive plant pest mitigation in both policy and operational management roles in coordination with federal, state and local partners. Kathryn holds an Environmental Science, Bachelor of Science degree from California State University East Bay, and an Executive Master of Public Policy from University of Maryland.
kathryn.e.bronsky@usda.gov
Sky Stephens, USDA FS
Agency update
Overview of the Forest Health Protection program and guiding Forest Service priorities. A review of recent pest issues and FHP investments with a discussion on FY2025 outlooks and FHP's role in future spongy moth efforts.
Sky Stephens currently serves as the National Entomologist with Forest Health Protection (USDA-FS-State, Private and Tribal Forestry). She has worked as a forest health specialist and entomologist for almost 15 years with positions at the Washington Office, Region 2, and with the Colorado State Forest Service. Sky is currently responsible for National level program management in entomology, genetic conservation, resistance and restoration, and supports annual conditions reporting, and accountability metrics. She works to leverage forest health data and partnerships into strategic investments that support healthy and resilient forests.
stephanie.s.stephens@usda.gov
Diana Mooij, CFIA
Agency update
Diana is a Senior Program Specialist in the Invasive Alien Species and Domestic Plant Health Programs section at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Since joining the CFIA she has been involved with the development and implementation of the invasive alien species program and the invasive plant program. In 2012 she became the national lead for the flighted spongy moth vessel certification program and is now also the national technical lead for the spotted lanternfly program.
diana.mooij@inspection.gc.ca
Kimberly Thielen Cremers
Aerial Application Safety Committee Update
Ms. Thielen Cremers is currently the National Lymantria Management Board Aerial Application Safety Committee Chair. Ms. Thielen Cremers has worked for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture since 1999 in spongy moth survey and management. She been a past NLMB executive member and has participated and chaired several ALDR program committees. Currently she is the president of the Slow the Spread Foundation. Ms. Thielen Cremers has been a strong advocate for increased training and safety awarenessfor state/federal aerial aviation projects.
kimberly.tcremers@state.mn.us
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