[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Ganghwa County will conduct aerial pest control on June 9 over 282 hectares of forest in the Manisan area, where damage from cicada moth larvae has been severe.
The aerial pest control operation is a measure taken due to a sharp increase in the population of outbreak pests such as cicada moths in areas where ground-based pest control is difficult.
The county plans to conduct the pest control with support from a medium-sized helicopter from the Korea Forest Service and a water tanker from the Ganghwa Fire Station. The pesticide used in aerial pest control is metaflumizone 20% aqueous suspension, which is highly effective against moths but may cause damage to honeybees and silkworms.
To address these concerns, the county held resident briefings on May 26 and June 1 for village heads in Hwado-myeon and beekeeping farmers.
Additionally, hiking trails on Manisan will be closed on the day of aerial pest control to minimize secondary damage from the operation. The county plans to hang announcement banners and broadcast notices through village public address systems.
A county official said, "We urge residents to refrain from entering forests before and after aerial pest control, to avoid collecting pine needles and wild vegetables, to prohibit beekeeping activities and livestock grazing, and to seal jars and drinking water containers." The official added, "The county will continue surveillance and pest control measures against cicada moth larvae and other outbreak pests to do our best to prevent the spread of damage caused by such pests."
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