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The gypsy moth is an old world native
which immigrated to the Americas In 1869- (they were intentionally
imported in an an effort to begin a silk operation.) Despite all
control efforts since its introduction, the gypsy moth has survived
and prospered while extending its range. Gypsy moth caterpillars
defoliate millions of acres of trees and shrubs annually in the
North America
The Gypsy moth
caterpillars are black, yellow, and white, with red-brown dots and
tufts of hair all along body. The adult male gypsy moths and female
gypsy moths are easily distinguished from one another; the male
gypsy moths are brownish-gray, whereas the female gypsy moths are
white with black markings and slightly larger. The Adult female
gypsy moths Adult Male gypsy moths are aprox. 1-3 inches long.
Unlike the male gypsy moths the female gypsy moths are incapable of
flight. The Asian gypsy moth females however, do fly
They feed on over 300 species of trees and shrubs but they appear to
prefer oaks. Constant defoliation from gypsy moth infestations
season after season stresses trees and can / does lead to their
early demise.
In residential areas gypsy moth caterpillars are an
extreme nuisance. Trees lose their foliage, caterpillars crawl
everywhere, and their droppings rain from the trees.
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Like the Japanese Beetle the gypsy moths entered North America with
few natural enemies to keep its populations in check, it found a
favorable climate and an abundant food supply. Sounds something like
the pilgrims ...but that's another topic altogether.
Once it's established, there is presently no surefire method
of Gypsy Moth Control , but several strategies to reduce
the damage from gypsy moths have proven effective.
Strategies include biological controls to slow the gypsy
moths population growth, removing gypsy moths egg masses,
killing gypsy moth caterpillars, and insecticide use .
Bacillus thuringiensis is harmful to moths and
butterflies at their caterpillar stage of development.
Spores are activated in the stomachs of caterpillars that
eat vegetation sprayed with
Bt causing death.
Gypsy Moth Traps
When gypsy moths reach the Adult stage,
the males can be trapped with
Gypsy Moth Traps .
Just like Human males, Gypsy Moths are always fluttering
around in search of females. The traps have a pheromone bait
inside their lid that arouses their mating drive and they
head towards the trap - but theoretically can't get back
out, although they sometimes do. This is not a 100%
effective method of Gypsy Moth Control.
Pest Barriers such as
Tanglefoot,
will protect a particular tree or shrub to a large extent,
but do very little in way of controlling gypsy moth
populations.
Natural Controls
Gypsy moths are susceptible to "nucleopolyhedrosis
virus". Occasionally you will see gypsy moth caterpillars
hanging from a tree branch or trunk in an inverted V
position, Leave these where you find them as other gypsy
moth caterpillars will also catch this virus.
This virus is more prevalent in years following a wet moist
Spring . This Virus can persist in low density gypsy moth
populations , however, when gypsy moth populations are high,
the virus spreads more readily and eliminates a higher
percentage of the gypsy moth population. There has been
research to develop a biological pesticide based on this
virus that would be an effective Gypsy Moth Control, but it is not readily available
yet. "Gypchek" is its name , and it's used
in very limited quantities in some areas and is still in the
R&D stage , which it probably will be for quite some time.
Birds will eat Gypsy Moths but they
will also feed on many of your ripe garden crops . You will
have to judge whether using birds in a gypsy moth control
scheme is actually advantageous. If you believe it would be
then consider that many birds hunt by watching for movement
from a comfortable perch, if your not concerned with birds
also eating your crops you could put multiple perches such
as trellises, posts and other upright structures to attract
birds who will assist in gypsy moth control as well as
controlling other garden pests.
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