Last week, we brought you the story of how this innocent-looking light brown Apple Moth had the people of California up in arms against the agricultural officials. It sounds like the people of California have won this battle!

This afternoon, State and Federal officials announced that the residential areas of San Francisco and its neighboring areas will not be sprayed aerially in an effort to eradicate this tiny menace. The officials still plan to spray the pesticide over agricultural and undeveloped areas. However, this will not happen until a study on the environmental impact is released next year.

Instead, agriculture officials will use ground methods like mixing the pesticide with a sticky paste and applying it to telephone poles and trees in the infected areas, to try eradicate the moth. They are also planning to release sterile moths so that there are no more new moths born.

Prior to this announcement, the officials had planned to aerially spray pesticides to some parts of the bay area in the summer and fall. Thanks to the strongly voiced concerns of bay area area residents, both young and old, with regards to both the safety and effectiveness of such a program, the officials re-assessed and decided to use alternative methods. What a relief for the residents of these areas.

Source: sfgate.com, San Jose Mercury