Canada approves Lymantria dispar multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus strain LDP-67

Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, is granting registration for the sale and use of Disparvirus Technical and BoVir, containing the active ingredient Lymantria dispar multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV) strain LDP-67, to suppress spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) in residential areas.

Lymantria dispar multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus is a baculovirus. Viruses in family Baculoviridae infect only arthropods and normally kill their hosts. Lymantria dispar multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus is specific to the spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) and is the active ingredient in the end-use product, BoVir. BoVir is proposed for application to trees growing in residential areas such as parks, boulevards and other recreational greenspaces, which collectively is referred to as the urban forest.

BoVir is a pest control product that only affects the spongy moth. Spongy moth can be a very serious pest of many different species of trees, especially oak trees, anywhere in the landscape. Because its active ingredient is specific to the spongy moth, BoVir can help manage this pest without affecting any non-target species.

The Proposed Registration Decision PRD2024-05, Lymantria dispar multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus strain LDP-67 and BoVir, containing the detailed evaluation of the information submitted in support of this registration, underwent a 45 day consultation period ending on 13 June 2024. The evaluation found that, under the approved conditions of use, the health and environmental risks and the value of the pest control products are acceptable. Health Canada received written comments relating to the assessments during the public consultation period conducted in accordance with section 28 of the Pest Control Products Act.