How to Identify and Control Gypsy Moth Caterpillars Lymantria dispar
I had to memorize a lengthy list of invasive pests’ Latin names in my pest identification class, and to help me remember, I imagined the trees groaning out a silent mantra of despair when they realized a generation of the defoliating caterpillars of Lymantria dispar were emerging.
The name has stuck in my head ever since.
Though the moths themselves are harmless, their larvae are menaces to trees, chewing holes in the leaves and sometimes stripping the foliage entirely.
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Luckily, there are some steps you can take if you notice them in your landscape.
We’ve compiled everything you need to know about these chewing pests in this guide.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
What Are Gypsy Moths?
The name gypsy moth, as of July 2021, is no longer recognized by the Entomological Society of America as the official common name for Lymantria dispar.
However, until a new name is found, you’re likely to see use of this outdated and offensive moniker continue.
L. dispar is native to Europe, Asia, and north Africa, and was introduced to North America 130 years ago.
Since then, it has become established in the northeastern US and eastern Canada, and is classified as an invasive, regulated pest.
Have you ever noticed signs along the highway, begging you to not move firewood?
This moth is one of the reasons. It is believed the primary way they spread from one region to another is on firewood and other outdoor items such as furniture, camping equipment, and trailers.
The caterpillars will chew on over 300 species of plants, especially trees, both hardwood and softwood.
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Research from the nearby Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York, reveals how acorns initiate a complex series of ecological chain reactions. And not just the obvious ways, like feeding turkeys or chipmunks or deer, but in influencing Gypsy moth outbreaks and tick-borne disease risk, and even the reproductive success of ground-nesting songbirds.Dr. Rick Ostfeld, a disease ecologist from Cary Institute, helped me understand what–both seen and unseen–is going on with those tiny acorns and their mighty, wide-ranging influences. Read along as you listen to the Oct. 19, 2015 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on iTunes or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).my q&a on acorns’
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