HANOVER TOWNSHIP -- People in part of Hanover Township near Nanticoke have been complaining their properties have been infested with gypsy moth caterpillars for weeks. The pests have also stripped the leaves from dozens of trees.
"We had a lot of calls of people concerned with the gypsy moth problem this year,” said Tanis Manseau, Director of Luzerne County Operational Services.
Manseau said the state can spray homes for a fee if counties sign up, but it's too late to do that this year. Luzerne County hasn't been in the state program for at least the past five years because there wasn't a need for it. People can call an exterminator to try to remove the pests, but for folks in Hanover Township, the county's response isn't good enough.
“It's very frustrating that they can't help out,” said Cathy Cirko, who lives in Hanover Township.
Cirko has been living with an infestation of gypsy moth caterpillars for almost two months. She started spraying her house's foundation with heavy-duty pesticide. But that, plus a power washer she plans to buy is expensive.
So she's calling the county to have her neighborhood sprayed next spring when state experts predict the gypsy moth caterpillars may be an even bigger problem.
“I just hope they can fulfill their promise for next year because I can't do this another year,” Cirko said.
The spray would cost residents about $26 an acre. The county urges people to call them to request a spray next year if they have experienced a problem with the caterpillars. The number to do that is 570-820-6347.