The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has sprayed pesticide this week along the North Shore to slow the spread of invasive gypsy moths. The agency applied BTK via aircraft near Tofte and Lutsen.
Minnesota Public Radio has a report on the activities HERE.
A pest imported from Europe in the 1860s, gypsy moths are voracious eaters that can defoliate entire trees. Oaks and aspens are especially susceptible to the insect which has few North American predators. Repeated defoliations by the pests can lead to the death trees.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has an extensive gypsy moth information page HERE.