Spongy Moth News

First treatment dates announced

The Province will be treating the following areas with Foray 48B, active ingredient Btk, to eradicate establishing invasive spongy moth populations beginning next week:

First application is planned for:

• Thursday, Apr 30 - Delta 
• Friday, May 1 – Squamish​

• The treatment areas will have signs at all entrance points in both Squamish and Delta
• In Squamish, there will be LED signs on highways to notify traffic of low-flying aircraft
• Treatments occur between first light (~5am) and will be completed by 7:30 am
• Foray 48B is approved for use over populated areas and although it poses a low risk to humans, we still recommend that individuals stay indoors during the treatment and for up to one hour after to avoid exposure
• Please note that spray dates can change with short notice depending on weather
• Treatment dates are determined based on biological development of the pest
• Next notifications will be done at approximately 48 hours and 24 hours before each planned application
• Each treatment area will be treated three times and each treatment will be scheduled approximately 7-10 days apart
• If you would like to learn more about our program and stay up-to-date please visit: www.gov.bc.ca/spongymoth-news
• Or, call the 24-hour Spongy Moth Information Line Toll Free 1-866-917-5999
• Residents can subscribe to our spongy moth news page (scroll to the bottom) to receive automated program notifications (24 hour spray notices, spray completion notices and other program updates)

Tentative treatment schedule - April 22, 2026

Aerial spraying to eradicate establishing spongy moth populations in Delta and Squamish are anticipated to commence the week of April 27th. Spray dates will be announced on this webpage, the spongy moth 24-hour information line (1-866-917-5999) and on lawn signs bordering the treatment boundaries. 
 
What you need to know:
Each location will be treated three times with Foray 48B (active ingredient Btk), and each treatment will occur approximately seven to ten days apart. Treatments will occur between first light (between 5:00 am and 6:00 am) and will be completed no later than 7:30 am. To avoid exposure to the spray, it is recommended that residents within the treatment area stay indoors during spraying and for up to 30 minutes to one hour after spraying is complete, with doors and windows closed. Foray 48B will naturally break down from UV exposure or can be washed off surfaces with soap and water.
 
Please note that spray dates are subject to change under short notice due to insect development rates (optimum spray windows are provided by a temperature driven model) and weather conditions. Rain or high winds will postpone a scheduled treatment, and the treatment will resume the following suitable morning. To stay up-to-date and receive automated updates of this page, please scroll to the bottom of this page to the ‘Subscribe’ option.
 
If you are concerned or experience any adverse health effects, please speak to your health care provider or call 8-1-1 (or 7-1-1 for the deaf and hard of hearing) to get personalized assistance or visit HealthLink BC, and report your experience to the 24-hour spongy moth information line (1-866-917-5999) so the information can be shared with the product supplier and Health Canada. 

Pesticide use permits issued - April 9, 2026

The Ministry of Environment and Parks has issued a Pesticide Use Permit authorizing the application of the biological insecticide Foray 48B over two locations in B.C.  Various notification and application conditions are outlined in the permit and will be carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Forests.  Note that the strain of Btk used in Foray 48B is ABTS-351.

• Pesticide Use Permit No. 924-0001-26-26 (PDF, 456, KB) (Delta and Squamish)

Current insect development model projections indicate first treatments will begin in Delta as early as April 28 and as early as May 1 in Squamish. Each area will be treated three times and each treatment will be approximately 7 - 10 days apart. Aerial spraying will occur between first light and completed by 7:30 am. To avoid contact with the spray it is recommended that residents within the treatment areas stay indoors with doors and windows closed for the duration of the spray and for up to one hour after spraying is completed. 

Please note that the spray dates are subject to change, particularly with the recent warm weather and updates will be posted on this page and on lawn signs around the treatment areas. To receive automated program updates, scroll to the bottom of this page and enter your email below the 'Subscribe' box and submit).

Pesticide use permit: Not issued - April 2, 2026

There has been a slight delay in the issuing of the Pesticide Use Permit Application for this spring's aerial-spray treatments in Delta and Squamish. As a result, on April 2, 2026, advertisements notifying the public about the treatments ran incorrectly in the Delta Optimist and Squamish Chief. Updated public notices will appear in the Squamish Chief and Delta Optimist once the permit is issued. The planned treatment window between mid-April and June 15, 2026 remains the same.

Order-in-Council signed - March 16, 2026

The provincial cabinet has approved the "Spongy Moth Eradication Regulation" authorizing the treatment of the two areas described in the Pesticide Use Permit Application (PDF, 355KB). Read the OIC B.C. Reg.205/2022 (PDF, 1MB).

2026 Open houses

The B.C. Plant Protection Advisory Council's Spongy Moth Technical Advisory Committee will host open houses in Delta and Squamish. Specialists will provide program information and answer questions about the 2025 trapping season and the 2026 treatment areas during the scheduled open houses:

• Delta: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 5:30-8:00 p.m. at Beach Grove Elementary (library).
• Squamish: Thursday, February 19, 2026, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Company (Garibaldi Room)

All residents within the treatment areas and a 300 m buffer zone will receive postcards inviting them to these open houses. View the postcards below for open house details:

• Delta Spongy Moth Open House February 18, 2026 (PDF, 440KB)
• Squamish Spongy Moth Open House February 19, 2026 (PDF, 440KB)

2026 Pesticide use permit application

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has applied for a Pesticide Use Permit for aerial spraying of Foray 48B to eradicate spongy moths in Delta and Squamish, B.C:

• 924-0001-26-26 Delta and Squamish Pesticide Use Permit Application (PDF, 351KB) 

A person wishing to contribute information about the treatment areas for the evaluation of this permit application must send copies of the information to both the applicant at British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3 or by email: Spongy.moth@gov.bc.ca and the administrator under the Integrated Pest Management Act at Ministry of Environment and Parks, Suite 200 - 10470 152 Street, Surrey, BC V3R 0Y3 or by email: ENVCIA@gov.bc.ca by end of day Saturday, February 28, 2026.

2026 Spongy moth program announcement

Trapping and monitoring results from 2025 indicate spongy moth populations are establishing in two locations and require eradication. Considering the vegetation complex in these locations, aerial sprays are required to eradicate this non-native, invasive species. Aerial spraying is planned for spring 2026 for:

• Delta (Tsawwassen): 38 ha (Delta 2026 Treatment Map (PNG, 4.3MB)
• Squamish: 121 ha (Squamish 2026 Treatment Map (PNG, 7.1MB)

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is in the process of submitting a Pesticide Use Permit Application for the 2026 eradication program. Ministry of Forests will provide operational support.

2025 Spongy moth program 

There are no planned spongy moth eradication spray treatments planned for spring 2025.

2024 Eradication program complete

The 2024 spongy moth eradication program is now complete. Trapping data will be reviewed this fall to determine the treatment results. Trapping data and any treatment plans will be announced in November 2024. 

Order-in-Council signed April 8, 2024

The provincial cabinet has approved the "Spongy Moth Eradication Regulation" authorizing the treatment  of13 areas described in the approved Pesticide Use Permits below.  Read the OIC B.C. Reg.100/2022 (PDF, 1.9MB).

Pesticide use permits issued - March 18, 2024

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has issued two Pesticide Use Permits authorizing the application of the biological insecticide Foray 48B over 13 locations in Southern B.C.  Various notification and application conditions are outlined in the permit and will be carried out by the Ministry of Forests.  Note that the strain of Btk used in Foray 48B is ABTS-351.

• Pesticide Use Permit No. 738-0037-24-24 (PDF, 1.1MB) (Tsawwassen, Langley, Kamloops, West Kelowna, Cranbrook) 
• Pesticide Use Permit No. 738-0038-24-24 (PDF, 1.2MB) (Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island)

Current insect development model projections indicate first treatments will begin on the South Island as early as April 29 and get progressively later moving northward and eastward.  The spray dates are subject to change, particularly with the recent warm weather and updates will be posted on this page.   

Pesticide use permit application review period extended

The deadline for comments on the Pesticide Use Permit Applications has been extended to March 1 from February 24: 

• 738-0037-24-24 Interior and Coast Areas Pesticide Use Permit Application (PDF, 500KB) 
• 738-0038-24-24 Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island Pesticide Use Permit Application (PDF, 500KB)

2024 Virtual open houses

The B.C. Plant Protection Advisory Council's Spongy Moth Technical Advisory Committee held three virtual open houses to answer questions about spongy moth and the planned eradication projects:

• Tuesday, February 6, 2024, 5:30-7:30 p.m. for Cranbrook, Kamloops, West Kelowna, Langley and Tsawwassen residents - about 30 attendees

• Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 5:30-7:30 p.m. for Salt Spring, Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach and Cowichan Bay residents - about 20 attendees

• Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 5:30-7:30 p.m. for North Saanich, Esquimalt/Vic West, Gorge-Tillicum and Belmont/Langford residents - 24 attendees

All residents within the treatment areas and a 300 m buffer zone will receive postcards inviting them to these open houses:

• Cranbrook, Kamloops, West Kelowna, Langley, Tsawwassen (PDF, 440KB)
• Salt Spring, Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, Cowichan Bay (PDF, 440KB)
• North Saanich, Gorge-Tillicum, Esquimalt, Belmont (PDF, 440KB)

2024 Pesticide use application permits

The Ministry of Forests has applied for two Pesticide Use Permits for aerial spraying of Foray 48B to eradicate spongy moths in 13 locations across B.C:

• 738-0037-24-24 Interior and Coast Areas Pesticide Use Permit Application (PDF, 500KB) 
• 738-0038-24-24 Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island Pesticide Use Permit Application (PDF, 500KB)

A person wishing to contribute information about the treatment areas for the evaluation of these permit applications must send copies of the information to both the applicant at  British Columbia Ministry of Forests, 200 – 10470 152^nd St, Surrey, BC V3R 0Y3 or by email: Spongy.moth@gov.bc.ca and the administrator under the Integrated Pest Management Act at Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Suite 200 - 10470 152 Street, Surrey, BC V3R 0Y3 or by email: ENVCIA@gov.bc.ca by Saturday, February 24, 2024.

2024 Spongy moth program announcement

Trapping and monitoring results from 2023 indicate spongy moth populations are establishing in various locations across the province and require eradication. Thirteen aerial sprays are required to eradicate this non-native, invasive species. Aerial spraying will be completed in the following areas:

• Cranbrook: 299 ha Cranbrook Treatment Map (JPG, 250KB)
• Kamloops: 80 ha Kamloops Treatment Map (JPG, 255KB)
• West Kelowna: 52 ha West Kelowna Treatment Map (JPG, 175KB)
• Langley: 30 ha Langley Treatment Map (JPG, 100KB)
• Tsawwassen: 203 ha Tsawwassen Treatment Map, JPG, 160KB)
• North Saanich: 170 ha Saanich Treatment Map (JPG, 130KB)
• Gorge-Tillicum (Victoria): 120 ha Gorge Tillicum Treatment Map, (JPG, 310KB)
• Esquimalt/Vic West: 31 ha Esquimalt Treatment Map (JPG, 250KB)
• Belmont (Colwood/Langford): 430 ha Belmont Treatment Map (JPG, 310KB)
• Cowichan Bay: 126 ha Cowichan Bay Treatment Map (JPG, 125KB)
• Salt Spring Island: 48 ha Salt Spring Island Treatment Map (JPG, 135KB)
• Nanaimo: 130 ha Nanaimo Treatment Map (JPG, 160KB)
• Qualicum Beach: 96 ha Qualicum Treatment Map (JPG, 130KB)

The 2023 eradication program was successful in all areas except the Belmont (Colwood) treatment area. Due to weather delays, three timely treatments were not completed in Belmont (2023 Belmont Treatment Map (JPG, 585)) and the establishing population was not eradicated and expanded. The area will be treated again in spring 2024.

The 2023 high-density trapping program completed on Salt Spring Island was successful. The trapping program limited the growth and spread of the establishing spongy moth population and a 48 ha area will be sprayed in spring 2024 to ensure the population is eradicated.

Virtual open house sessions will be held in February. Subscribe to this news page (right column box) to receive regular program updates and announcements, including information on when the virtual open house sessions will be held and how to participate.