• SHORE LINE
Published by The Town of Pine Knoll Shores In The Interests Of Its Citizens
Post Office Box 757, Atlantic Beach, N. C. 28512
yoli»e V - Number 6 Jure 198^
Noel Yancey - Editor
State forestry experts say the hordes of hungry caterpillars that have defoliated
thousands of live oaks and bay trees as well as hundreds of azaleas and other shrubs in
Pine Xholl Shores are more of a nuisance than a serious threat to the trees,
FORESTERS SAY "They (the foresters) don't consider it alarming, although we do," said
MTkTUQ Commissioner Ken Hanan in reporting on the situation to the Board of
Commissioners at its June meeting.
SERIOIS TORj^T Coleman A, Doggett, a senior state forester from Raleigh, who to\ired the
infected area in May along with other experts, said the caterpillars are the larva of the
white marked tussock moth. He said in a letter to Hanan that he considered the insect "is
more of a nuisance in your area than a threat to your trees." He added, however, he was
**irorrled about the aaaleas" which "are being defoliated very heavily."
Hanan said the state experts called the Pine Knoll Shores outbreak of the tussock moth
"the heaviest they had ever seen." The moths are mostly in the cocoon stage presently.
Hanan told the board Doggett had promised that his agency would keep a close watch on
h» situation to determine if additional generations of the pest can be expected this year,
Doggett said "if, as anticipated, no additional generations occur this summer, we will con
duct a biological evaluation of the insect next winter" and will then advise on "control
options" which could include aerial spraying of the infested area — generally the area
south of Salter Path road. However, the pest has infested large areas north of the road
and has crossed the canal in spots.
Blamche Yancey said the caterpillars had infested her property on the north side of
Salter Path Road by the thousands and had stripped her live oaks and other trees and her
shrubs, including azaleas, of their foliage. She said that the smallest of the caterpillars
even got into her house by slipping under the screens. In early June her house was
plastered by the cocoons which had succeeded the caterpillars.
"It*8 like a horror movie," said Itery Kanyha at the height of the caterpillar out
break. "I have to close my windows because the little ones have been crawling through the
screens and into my house." She said she feared most of her azaleas had been killed,
Doggett said the present moth generation was too far advanced for an areawide chemical
control program to be effective this year. However, individuals with nuisance problems could
spray them with B-T, Orthene or Sevin.
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