Gypsy Moth
Gypsy moth is a Federal and State quarantined leaf eating insect, that is a serious threat to many forest trees and ornamental plants. The larva or caterpillar is the damaging stage of the insect, as it eats the leaves from trees in the spring.
A single Gypsy moth caterpillar can consume as much as one square foot of leaves per day. When populations reach outbreak proportions, the caterpillars can completely defoliate trees over a wide geographic area leaving a bleak winter-like landscape.
(Click on the pictures to get a larger view.)
Gypsy moth is a pest of several hundred species of trees and shrubs. It prefers hardwoods such as oak, hickory, and maple; however, there are very few trees and shrubs that are not on the insect’s menu.
Why is Gypsy moth a concern ?
Consistent or repeated defoliation over several years can have devastating effects, often leading to tree death.
Fecal pellets from the feeding caterpillars rain down into people’s yards and public areas making it difficult to enjoy the outdoors.
Caterpillars invade outdoor living areas in mass migrations, and hairs from the insect may cause allergic reactions in some people.
Gypsy moth is easily moved to new areas by unsuspecting human activities.
Millions of dollars have been spent to lessen the impact of Gypsy moth in other states.
The longer we can keep Gypsy moth out of Iowa, the less the long term economic impact will be.
Gypsy Moth History
Link: U.S. Forrest Service - Gypsy Moth in North America
Gypsy moth is not native to the United States. The insect is originally from Europe and Asia, and was first introduced in 1869 by a French scientist living in Massachusetts who was attempting to breed the insect for silk production. Ironically the Gypsy moth was never well suited to produce silk. The insect escaped and has slowly advanced westward ever since.
When it was first realized how big a problem Gypsy moth could be, attempts to eradicate the insect were organized by the public in large scale fashion. Unfortunately control measures were physically demanding, dangerous, and the insecticides of the day were as likely to poison the workers as they were the Gypsy moth.
Not surprisingly, the Gypsy moth became well established in a short period of time.
(Click on the pictures to get a larger view.)
The good news is the female Gypsy moth can not fly well, and natural spread is very limited. Gypsy moth has also been a well studied insect since its first introduction to the United States. We know a considerable amount of information on this pest, including the pheromones it uses to attract a mate, as well as natural predators and diseases.
Scientist have used this information in forming extremely safe eradication and control techniques, as well as excellent pheromone based detection traps that trap the male Gypsy moth.
Where is the Gypsy Moth ?
The nation wide emphasis to control Gypsy moth has changed over the years from eradication to supression. This includes minimizing the distribution of the pest by unsuspecting people, and eradication efforts in localized areas where Gypsy moth is first detected.
Suppression also attempts to minimize the natural spread of Gypsy moth along the advancing front. This continues to be the strategy used today.
Iowa began yearly detection trap surveying for Gypsy moth in 1970. This is done to detect the earliest possible introductions of Gypsy moth to the state, thereby making eradication a viable option.
The current Gypsy moth line of advance is as far west as central Wisconsin, and as far south as North Carolina. The progression line is very near Iowa. It is considered to be about 40 miles east of the Mississippi River.
Northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota are now considered to be in the transition zone before the advancing front. If you suspect Gypsy moth in your area, please let us know by filling out the Contact Us page.
To see where Gypsy moth is on the map, and the latest quarantined areas click here.