As caterpillars eat N.B. maple leaves, syrup producers consider insecticide solution

Canadian Press 26/07/2024 14:39 New Brunswick’s maple syrup industry is considering using an insecticide to kill off forest tent caterpillars that have chewed through a portion of the province’s northwestern woodlands this summer. The province’s Department of Natural Resources estimates that the fuzzy caterpillars have caused the defoliation of about 120 square kilometres of forests on or near male syrup farms — a tough blow for an industry that has grown steadily over the last decade. Producers are fearful the result will be unhealthy trees — and lower production of syrup in next spring’s runoff, Frédérick Dion, president of the New Brunswick Maple Syrup Association, said in an interview earlier this week. “You walk through the forest and you hear the sounds of millions of those caterpillars eating the leaves…

This content is for Yearly Subscription, Yearly Subscription – Corporate, Print Subscription Only, and Canada Print and Online members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here

Add Your Voice

Is there more to this story? We'd like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Contribute your voice on our contribute page.