| Pest | Gypsy Moth | |
| Host Plants | Most oak species, Many other deciduous species and some conifers, especially Blue Spruce | |
| Description |
 Catepillar
ranging from 1/16-3" as they grow. They have
five (5) rows of blue dots followed by six (6) rows
of red dots. Caterpillars pupate into
brown-white moths. Damage is usually most
easily noticed on conifers and can be severe.
It can cause the death of the tree. |
|
| Life Cycle |
The Gypsy Moth
over-winters as an egg in a cluster of 500 or more
eggs. Eggs typically hatch in the spring
during the first week in May. Once the
caterpillars settle on a new host, they begin
feeding on the foliage. Small to moderate
sized populations will often feed at night and come
down out of the trees during daylight hours to avoid
predators and parasites. Caterpillars in high
populations usually stay in the trees around the
clock due to intense competition for foliage. The caterpillar stage lasts until about the third week in June whereupon they pupate. Adults start to appear by late June / early July. Neither the male nor female moths feed. |
|
| History | The Gypsy Moth was accidentally introduced into the United States in Massachusetts in the 1860's. Since then, it has spread throughout the Northeast and well beyond. It is a voracious feeder on oaks but can also attack many different deciduous hosts. In addition, it will also feed on many different conifers when stressed for food. It can be a serious pest of trees and a nuisance due to the irritating hairs on its body and the copious amount of excrement that it produces in high population years. | |
| For more information visit www.umassgreeninfo.org | ||