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Gypsy Moth Infestation
Are you noticing caterpillars with blue dots on their backs crawling up and down your trees?
Ontario is experiencing an overwhelming infestation of Gypsy Moths this season and this means that your trees are at risk of being quickly defoliated!
These caterpillars feed on deciduous trees at an alarming rate! One caterpillar can eat its way through a square metre of leaves as it grows into its adult form!
Gypsy Moths prefer Maple, Beech, Birch, Ash, Poplar, Oak and more! They can also move on to softwoods such as Eastern White Pine, Balsam Fir and Colorado Blue Spruce trees when their deciduous buffet is exhausted!
Prevention
How to help prevent Gypsy Moths from defoliating your tree?
1. Pressure wash the trunk and main branches of your trees to dislodge the caterpillars.
2. Hand remove any visible caterpillars.
3. Apply a band of caterpillar tape or duct tape inside out on the tree trunks. Caterpillars travel up and down the trunk and will become stuck on the sticky tape.
***** VERY IMPORTANT!!! When using this method please add a layer of chicken wire or mesh to the outside of the duct tape to prevent wildlife from accidentally becoming trapped.
4. Create a burlap trap on trees with heavy caterpillar traffic:
- Step#1: Wrap a piece of burlap around the trunk and tie a string tightly at the halfway point of the fabric.
- Step#2: Allow the top half of the burlap to drape down over the string, creating a fold.
- Step#3: Check the burlap trap regularly as the caterpillars will use this as a place to retreat from the hot sun. They won't be able to navigate their way upwards and become trapped.
- Step#4: Remove the trapped caterpillars and allow them to drop into a bucket of soapy water. They cannot swim.
- Finally, keep an eye out in the coming months for the pupa and moths! Pupa can be removed by hand and moths can be attracted to traps. Next January/February, add the removal of egg masses from tree trunks to your list of 'things to do in the garden'.
