With meteorologists forecasting a 60% chance of showers beginning this evening, a trio of helicopters may not make their third malathion-spraying mission to combat the crop-eating Medfly today, said Larry Hawkins, an official with the Cooperative Medfly Project.
Hawkins said the spray operations in eastern Camarillo could also be delayed or canceled for the evening if winds are more than 15 m.p.h. A decision on tonight's operations will not be reached until late this afternoon.
"Our rule of thumb is that we won't go if there is a 50% chance of rain or greater in the 24 hours after an application," Hawkins said. "After all, it's not very effective if it just washes away."
In addition, authorities battling the Medfly infestation say they will adjust their spraying schedule near the Thanksgiving Day holiday so not to inconvenience residents living in the 16-square-mile spray zone.
