Detailed history of spongy moth treatments in B.C.
Last updated on April 2, 2026Usually, spongy moths (Lymantria dispar; ​formerly referred to as gypsy moth) detected in B.C. do not survive and establish a population. However, in rare circumstances, treatments are required to prevent moths from establishing permanently. The first spray treatments in B.C. happened in 1979.
- See a more detailed treatment history (PDF, 225KB)
Year |
Location |
Treatment details |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
Cranbrook (299 ha) Cowichan Bay (126 ha) Delta (203 ha) Esquimalt (31 ha) Kamloops (80 ha) Langley (30 ha) Nanaimo (130 ha) Saanich (170 ha) Salt Spring (48 ha) Victoria-Belmont (430 ha) Victoria-Gorge/Tillicum (120 ha) Qualicum Beach (96 ha) |
Aerial Spray Cranbrook (JPG, 250KB) Aerial Spray Cowichan Bay (JPG, 125KB) Aerial Spray Delta (JPG, 160KB) Aerial Spray Esquimalt (JPG, 250KB) Aerial Spray Kamloops (JPG, 255KB) Aerial Spray Langley (JPG, 110KB) Aerial Spray Nanaimo (JPG, 160KB) Aerial Spray Saanich (JPG, 130KB) Aerial Spray Salt Spring (JPG, 135KB) Aerial Spray Victoria-Belmont (JPG, 310KB) |
| 2023 |
Campbell River (303 ha) Courtenay (331 ha) Courtenay-Dove Creek (652 ha) Port Alberni (763 ha) Victoria-Belmont (341 ha) Victoria-Esquimalt (267 ha) Victoria-View Royal (381 ha) |
Aerial Spray Campbell River (JPG, 535KB) Aerial Spray Courtenay (JPG, 595KB) Aerial Spray Dove Creek (JPG, 400KB) Aerial Spray Port Alberni (JPG, 485KB) Aerial Spray Belmont (JPG, 585KB) |
| 2022 |
Burnaby (193) Chilliwack (49 ha) Coquitlam (41 ha) Cowichan (402 ha) Langley (362 ha) Mission (341 ha) Nanoose Bay (1,068 ha) Surrey (108 ha) Victoria-View Royal (50 ha) |
Aerial Spray Burnaby (JPG, 40KB) Aerial Spray Chilliwack (JPG, 105KB) Ground Spray Coquitlam (JPG, 30KB) Aerial Spray Cowichan (JPG, 30KB) Aerial Spray Langley (JPG, 30KB) Aerial Spray Mission (JPG, 30KB) Aerial Spray Nanoose (JPG, 50KB) |
| 2021 | Courtenay (187 ha) | Aerial Spray Courtenay (JPG, 135KB) |
| 2020 |
North Surrey (241 ha) Cowichan Lake (231 ha) Castlegar (167 ha) |
Aerial Spray North Surrey (JPG, 185KB) |
| 2019 | North Surrey (62.2 ha) | Aerial Spray North Surrey (JPG, 135KB) |
| 2018 |
Courtenay (94 ha) Agassiz (41 ha) Campbell River (45 ha) North Surrey (62 ha) |
Aerial Spray Courtenay (JPG, 475KB) Ground Spray Agassiz (JPG, 610KB) |
| 2017 |
Bear Hill (Saanich) 182 ha N. Surrey (Guildford) 26 ha |
|
| 2016 | - | No Treatment |
|
2015 |
Surrey - 4576, 26 ha Delta - 204 ha |
Aerial Spray Surrey (JPG,295KB) |
|
2014 |
- |
No Treatment |
|
2013 |
- |
No Treatment |
|
2012 |
- |
No Treatment |
|
2011 |
- |
No Treatment |
|
2010 |
Harrison - 25 ha Richmond - 766 ha |
|
|
2009 |
Harrison - 329 ha |
|
|
2008 |
Salt Spring Island - 7.4 ha Saltair - 13.3 ha Lake Cowichan |
Ground Spray Salt Spring (GIF, 20KB) |
|
2007 |
Courtenay - 210 ha Salt Spring Island - 10 ha Saanich (Cedar Hill) - 14 ha Belmont Park (Colwood) - 18 ha Sidney |
Aerial Spray Courtenay (JPG, 90KB) |
|
2006 |
Nanaimo - 10 ha Salt Spring Island - 43 ha Saanich (Cedar Hill) - 9 ha |
Ground Spray Nanaimo (JPG, 70KB) |
|
2005 |
Duncan Gabriola Island Saanich Langley |
Mass Trapping Duncan (JPG, 115KB) Mass Trapping Gabriola (JPG, 125KB) Mass Trapping Saanich (JPG, 275KB) Langley (no map) |
|
2004 |
Saanich (Mt. Douglas Park) - 570 ha N. Delta - 23 ha Abbotsford Duncan Gabriola Island |
Aerial Spray Saanich (JPG, 75KB) Aerial Spray N. Delta (JPG, 145KB) Mass Trapping Abbotsford (no map) Mass Trapping Duncan (see 2005) |
|
2003 |
N. Delta Saanich |
|
|
2002 |
N. Delta |
|
|
2001 |
N. Delta - 34 ha Sechelt |
|
|
2000 |
Burnaby - 279.5 ha Sechelt |
|
|
1999 |
Victoria, Colwood, Esquimalt - 12,203 ha Duncan - 429 ha Nanaimo - 164 ha Brentwood Bay - 602 ha Tsawwassen - 51 ha |
Aerial Spray Victoria Area (GIF, 25KB) Aerial Spray Duncan (GIF, 10KB) Aerial Spray Nanaimo (GIF, 10KB) Aerial Spray Brentwood Bay (GIF, 10KB) Aerial Spray Tsawwassen (GIF, 45KB)
|
|
1998 |
Victoria, Colwood, Esquimalt |
|
|
1997 |
New Westminster Victoria, Colwood, Esquimalt |
Treatments New Westminster (JPG, 95KB) Mass Trapping |
|
1996 |
Hope |
Ground Spray (no map) |
|
1995 |
Chilliwack |
|
|
1994 |
Victoria (Maplewood) Nanaimo (Beban Park) S. Vancouver Whisky Creek Hope, Kawakawa Lake |
Aerial Spray Victoria (JPG, 505KB) Aerial Spray Nanaimo (GIF, 85KB) Ground Spray S. Vancouver (JPG, 80KB) |
|
1993 |
Richmond Burnaby Salt Spring Island Victoria Hope |
Aerial Spray Richmond (GIF, 180KB) Ground Spray Salt Spring (JPG, 90KB) |
|
1992 |
Parksville (south) Belmont Park (Colwood) Vancouver (Asian Gypsy Moth) |
Ground Spray Parksville (JPG, 90KB) |
|
1991 |
North Saanich |
|
|
1990 |
Parksville (North) |
|
|
1989 |
Kelowna |
|
|
1988 |
Kelowna Parksville (North) Colwood |
Treatments Kelowna (JPG, 125KB) |
|
1987 |
CFB Chilliwack |
|
|
1986 |
CFB Chilliwack |
|
|
1985 |
Courtenay |
Ground Spray |
|
1984 |
Ft. Langley |
Ground Spray |
|
1983 |
- |
No treatment |
|
1982 |
- |
No treatment |
|
1981 |
- |
No treatment |
|
1980 |
- |
No treatment |
|
1979 |
Kitsilano |
Ground Spray - operational trial of Safer's Insecticidal Soap and Carbaryl. See Puritch, G.S.; Brooks, B.C. 1981. Effects of insecticidal soap used in the gypsy moth control program in Kitsilano on insects and vegetation. Environment Canada, Canadian Forestry Service, Pacific Forest Research Centre, Victoria, BC. Information Report BC-X-218. 22 p. |