Because of cuts in the county budget allocated for the gypsy moth suppression program, 18 sites -- most in western county -- will not be sprayed this spring.

"Out of the 49 locations that qualified for the program, these places posed the least serious threats of damage," said Ricardo Uriarte, agriculture inspector at the Maryland Department of Agriculture office in Mount Airy.

Of the 18 sites, only one is east of Route 29, in a highly populated area in the Village of Long Reach, Columbia.

"Our office was told by the county administration that there wouldn't be sufficient funds to spray," Uriarte said. "Of course, those places not sprayed will experience defoliage problems. But it was a simple matter of numbercrunching and rankings."

The original budget allocation was reduced 33 percent, making the new total $30,000.

Gypsy moth caterpillars devour tree leaves in the spring, which can eventually kill the tree.

All residents who live near areas affected were notified by mail of the program. Letters are being mailed to residents whose sites have been dropped as well.

AREAS CUT FROM THE COUNTY'S GYPSY MOTH SPRAYING PROGRAM

001: Florence and Mullinix roads, Lisbon

002: Jennings Chapel and Jones roads, Florence

003: Bushy Park Road, Lisbon

006: Burnt Woods Road, Glenelg

007: Triadelphia and Carroll Mill roads, West Friendship

009: Manor and Frederick roads, Ellicott City

010: I-70 and Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville

011: Mount View and Sand Hill roads, West Friendship

016: near Taylor Manor Hospital, Ellicott City

017: Route 97 and Daisy Road, Daisy

018: near Triadelphia Reservoir

019: Route 32 and Linden Church Road, Dayton

020: Triadelphia Mill Road, near Trialdelphia Watershed

021: Nichols and Highland roads, Clarksville

022: Brighton Dam and Haviland Mill roads, Clarksville

024: near Rocky Gorge Reservoir and Beaufort Park, Fulton

038: Route 108 and Old Waterloo Road, Columbia

042: Rockburn Branch Park, Elkridge