Planes Buzzing the City are Spraying For Gypsy Moths

Those low-flying airplanes aren’t about to crash into your house. The planes from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and they’re spraying for the gypsy moth over one particular part of Oak Forest.

“It’s only in the old Arbor Park neighborhood,” said City Administrator Troy Ishler. Officials were told that the spraying is confined to an area bordered by 167th, Cicero, 159th and the railroad tracks.

The City of Oak Forest had sent out a note in March’s e-Briefs about the spraying. However, the Oak Forest Police Department had received more than 50 calls Tuesday morning about up to airplanes flying very low over the city.

So, what the heck is a gypsy moth?

It was first introduced into the United States by accident in the 1860s. Some moths escaped from a laboratory and started to spread.

The moth is considered one of the most destructive pests of hardwood trees.

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