Gypsy Moths

[Richard Baker]

As usual commercial greed reared its ugly head and the City of Lakewood now has an infestation of Gypsy Moths like most of the northeast. Imported near Boson from Asia or Europe in the late 1860’s by Trouvelot [go figure a Frenchman] for the purpose of producing silk he accidentally released the moths into the environment. We didn’t learn then, so some intellectual genus duplicated his stupidity and we have killer bees all in the name of producing more honey.

My wife called the City to report three tree problems; city trees in the tree lawn need pruned or you better wear a face shield when walking down our street, tent worms in the tree lawn tree and gypsy moth egg sacks on our garage, fence and white oak tree. After she discussed the problem with the city worker who responded to her call it seems not only Clifton Park is infested but most of the City of Lakewood.

He explained that we should scrap off the egg sack and put them into soapy water to kill the eggs. Wonderful, except I misplaced my rocket man pack to get the hundreds of sacks fifty feet up in the century oak trees.

With no surprise the people who pay the most taxes get the least amount of service from the Feds. There are grants available for aerial spraying but I will bet you would have to live in a shack on top of a hill in the forests of West Virginia to qualify for the funding.

First, where is our local social event report and planner the Observer in informing the public of the problem, what we should look for and how to eradicate the egg sacks? Perhaps the moments of front page tabloid reporting diverted the editor’s attention from the big picture to comic relief.

Secondly, where is our City on this problem? Without the eradication of the gypsy moth infestation by aerial spraying this city is going to lose most of the century trees and left unchecked most of the young trees. Has City funds been allocated for spraying next spring in the event federal funding is not possible? Has arrangements been made with a company to spray for gypsy moths next spring? Is the City coordinating with the Park District and neighboring cities about spraying at the same time for maximum effectiveness

[Jeff Endress]

Richard

First, where is our local social event report and planner the Observer in informing the public of the problem, what we should look for and how to eradicate the egg sacks? Perhaps the moments of front page tabloid reporting diverted the editor’s attention from the big picture to comic relief.

Unlike the PD and Post (neither of which have addressed this issue) we're all volunteers.....no paid reporters.....The Observer publishes stories that it recieves.

So can I assume that you'll be submitting the gypsy moth article for the next issue? Obviously it's needed, obviously you're engaged, so the choice of the writer is likewise..... obvious.

Jeff

[dl meckes]

Time to band the tree trunks with burlap and pick the caterpillars off every day.

Spraying is not an option for many communities for many reasons.

Many people with various breathing problems would have to have plenty of advance notification and may even have to be temporarily evacuated.

[ryan costa]

I don't understand. Gypsy moths have been here a hundred years. how are they suddenly wiping out the lakewood's woodlands?

[Joan Roberts]

I don't understand. Gypsy moths have been here a hundred years. how are they suddenly wiping out the lakewood's woodlands?

Actually Ryan, they haven't.

Here's a good graphic

http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/morgantown/4557/gmoth/spread/

Having some family in PA, where the gypsy moth has been causing problems for years, I can tell you, this is not a welcome development.

[dl meckes]

Charyn Varkonyi writes:

Here is a link to the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Suppression Treatment Application:

http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/gypsymot ... ession.stm

and some other links with information that may be useful to those who are suffering:

http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/gypsymoth/
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/forestry/Hea ... symoth.htm
http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/morgantown/4557/gmoth/

[ryan costa]

Natural enemies play an important role during periods when gypsy moth populations are sparse. Natural enemies include parasitic and predatory insects such as wasps, flies, ground beetles, and ants; many species of spider; several species of birds such as chickadees, bluejays, nuthatches, towhees, and robins; and approximately 15 species of common woodland mammals, such as the white-footed mouse, shrews, chipmunks, squirrels, and raccoons. Predation by small mammals (mice and shrews) is the largest source of mortality in low density gypsy moth populations and this mortality is apparently critical in preventing outbreaks.

The Calosoma beetle, a ground beetle of European origin, cuckoos, and flocking birds, such as starling, grackles, and red-winged blackbirds, are attracted to infested areas in years when gypsy moth populations are dense.

Diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses contribute to the decline of gypsy moth populations, especially during periods when gypsy moth populations are dense and are stressed by lack of preferred foliage.

Wilt disease caused by the nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV) is specific to the gypsy moth and is the most devastating of the natural diseases. NPV causes a dramatic collapse of outbreak populations by killing both the larvae and pupae. Larvae infected with wilt disease are shiny and hang limply in an inverted "V" position. Infection with NPV is the most common source of mortality in high density populations and NPV epizootics usually cause the collapse of populations.

Weather affects the survival and development of gypsy moth life stages regardless of population density. For example, temperatures of -20°F. (-29°C.) lasting from 48 to 72 hours can kill exposed eggs; alternate periods of freezing and thawing in late winter and early spring may prevent the overwintering eggs from hatching; and cold, rainy weather inhibits dispersal and feeding of the newly hatched larvae and slows their growth.

The decision to use pesticides is influenced by a number of factors:

* The number of visible egg masses.
* The percentage of preferred hosts in a mixed stand of trees (50 percent or more of oak).
* Whether trees already have dead or dying branches, especially near the top branches or crown.
* Whether the property is located adjacent to wooded areas heavily infested with gypsy moths.

During periods when numbers of gypsy moth larvae are dense, pesticides may be the most effective method of reducing the number of larvae and protecting the foliage of host trees. Application of pesticides should be done by a certified applicator, because special equipment is required. Large areas, such as wooded residential areas and forests, should be treated by aircraft.

Available pesticides fall into two broad groups: microbial or biological and chemical (table 1).

Microbial and biological pesticides contain living organisms that must be consumed by the pest. Microbials include bacteria, viruses, and other naturally occurring organisms; biologicals include manmade synthetics of naturally occurring organisms. These pesticides should be applied before the larvae reach the third stage or instar of development. As they mature, larvae become more resistant to microbial pesticides and are, therefore, more difficult to kill.

Nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV), a naturally occurring organism, has been developed as a microbial pesticide. It is presently registered under the name "Gypchek" and is available for use in USDA Forest Service sponsored suppression programs. NPV and Gypcheck are specific to the gypsy moth.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is microbial and biological. It is the most commonly used pesticide. In addition to being used against the gypsy moth, Bt is used against a number of other pests, including the western spruce budworm, spruce budworm, and tent caterpillar. When Bt is taken internally, the insect becomes paralyzed, stops feeding, and dies of starvation or disease.

Chemical pesticides are contact poisons in addition to being stomach poisons. The timing of the chemical application is less critical to the successful population reduction of the pest than the timing of the application of the microbials and biologicals. Chemical pesticides can affect non-target organisms and may be haz-ardous to human health.

[Richard Baker]

Although, the subject was Gypsy Moths, I am quite aware that the Observer uses volunteer labor and it is obvious because volunteers normally write about their interests. To suggest the Observer is a newspaper would be a reach. Since I am not spiritualist, mystic, clairvoyant, or physic I’m not sure when or by whom any particular article will be printed. Despite the fact the paper uses volunteer writers, the Observers is and will primarily be a social or athletic event reporter and planner.

Back to the subject; Gypsy Moths, the practicality of picking off egg sacks or spraying individual trees is arsine. The percentage of egg sacks accessible is minimal and the colonies in neighboring trees will reintroduce colonies to treated trees. If the problem is such the Feds have a grant program, one can assume Gypsy Moths are devastating our forests; therefore the funds have been allocated to help eradicate the infestation.

I appreciated all the information and subject matter on Gypsy Moths but I still revert to the question what does the City of Lakewood has planned to eradicate Gypsy Moths from the area? I was raised on an orchard in New Mexico and we sprayed trees at the first sign of any infestation and didn’t wait until damage occurred. I am sure the City of Lakewood is aware of the problem. If not, then the administration is even more inert and inept than they have demonstrated in the past with their solutions for the city’s infrastructure problems and budget.

Our city administration and management is paid by the citizens not only to provide services economically but also to solve problems. The former has been a disaster but it will be educational to see how the handle this problem.

[ryan costa]

Can trees bee sprayed on foot, utilizing a pressurized hose ? That seems cheaper than renting an airplane.

[dl meckes]

Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
City of Lakewood, OH
Community Relations Office
(216) 529-6650

July 26, 2006
LAKEWOOD TAKES PRECAUTIONS AGAINST GYPSY MOTH

The City of Lakewood and the Ohio Department of Agriculture have confirmed that gypsy moths have been identified in Lakewood. The gypsy moth population has only been identified in an isolated area of Clifton Park. Immediately upon suspicion of the existence of gypsy moth, the City of Lakewood contacted the Ohio Department of Agriculture to do an analysis of the gypsy moth situation in Lakewood and inquire about programs aimed at managing the gypsy moth.

The gypsy moth is a non-native, invasive species that has been advancing into Ohio from Pennsylvania and Michigan over the past decade. In its caterpillar stage, it feeds on the leaves of over 300 different tree and shrub species and is especially fond of oak. A healthy tree can usually withstand only two years of defoliation before it is permanently damaged or dies.

The gypsy moth develops in four stages: egg, larvae (caterpillar), pupae (cocoon) and moth and has only one generation per year. The egg stage occurs from approximately August to April. Hatching generally occurs in late April or early May, just as tree leaves are emerging. The newly hatched larvae are 1/8" long, hairy, and mostly dark brown to black. They climb to the tops of the trees and feed on leaves. The larva spins a thread and uses wind currents to balloon from tree to tree. This is the main way gypsy moths disperse.

The larvae are voracious feeders and can reach up to 3" in length. In late June or early July, the larvae finish feeding and find a sheltered place to pupate. The 1/2" to 1" pupa, or resting state, is hairless and dark brown. Pupation takes two weeks and adult moths emerge in July or August. Male moths emerge first and fly in a zigzag pattern during daylight hours. Females do not fly, but can crawl a short distance. Adult moths do not feed.

Residents are asked to monitor their trees for gypsy moth egg masses. Gypsy moth egg masses are tan to brown in color, oval and about half the size of a quarter, and covered with hairs from the female's body. If residents suspect that they may have gypsy moth, they can contact Paul Klembara of the Division of Streets and Forestry at (216) 529-6813. The Division will confirm the existence of gypsy moths and track location areas for the City’s continuing strategy to manage the situation.

The gypsy moth was brought to the United States in 1869 by a French amateur entomologist looking to develop a new strain of silkworm for silk production. Established populations exist in all or parts of 19 states from Maine to Wisconsin and south to Illinois and generally in a southeasterly line from Illinois to northeastern North Carolina. To date, 44 of Ohio's 88 counties have established gypsy moth populations.

More information about the gypsy moth can be found on the Ohio Department of Agriculture website at www.ohioagriculture.gov/gypsymoth.

[Rhonda loje]

If you want to see what these moths look like...check out my photoblog on the Photo Section of the home page.

Rhonda Loje

[dl meckes]

Here are Rhonda's images: