About the spray

Foray 48B has been identified as the best treatment for gypsy moth in Hamilton. It will be used during aerial treatment.

Foray 48B has been used widely in the Northern Hemisphere for more than 35 years with good results. It was used in Auckland to eradicate the white spotted tussock moth (Eastern Suburbs, 1996-1998).

It is currently being used successfully in Western suburbs of Auckland against the painted apple moth Link to PDF document (22 KB).

Foray 48B is mostly made up of water but has other ingredients:

Active ingredient

  • Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk). 
  • This is a naturally occurring bacterium.
  • It affects only caterpillars.
  • A protein produced by Btk affects cells in the caterpillar's gut. The receptor that triggers this reaction is not present in humans, other insects, birds or other animals.

Nutrient brew

  • The bacteria are grown in a nutrient brew, just like ginger beer.
  • It includes food material like soy, corn and fishmeal. 
  • The product being used in Hamilton is free of nuts, eggs, milk and dairy residues and wheat.

Inactive ingredients

  • Ingredients are added to make the spray stable, easy to mix into water and able to stick to leaves.  People are commonly exposed to these ingredients at home, they include:
    • Trace preservatives and spreading agents that are commonly found in food and cosmetics.
    • Food sugars that are used to stop evaporation and as a sticking agent (not lactose).
    • Products commonly used as acidity regulators and stablisers in food.

Page last updated: 19 June 2008