Thanks to Illinois Issues for reporting that the Illinois Department of Agriculture is trying out a new weapon in its battle against gypsy moths, which in their caterpillar stage defoliate millions of acres of trees. The females secrete pheromones to attract males, so this year the Ag Dept. plans to spread the smell of females far and wide, so the males won’t know where to find a mate. If this works as a way to solve problems, there is hope in Springfield, where spreading confusion is something state government knows how to do.
–Fletcher Farrar, editor and publisher
This article appears in May 8-14, 2014.
