Where do most Gypsy Moths live?

Found throughout the eastern regions of the United States and Canada, the gypsy moth has reached areas of the central U.S. as well. Typically its habitat is in forests or wooded areas.

What is the habitat of the gypsy moth?

It is known to defoliate acres of forest and urban trees. The defoliation alters forest composition and destroys the habitats of many birds and mammals. It is native to Europe, southern Asia and northern Africa. In the United States, it most commonly is found in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware.

What to do if you find a gypsy moth?

Apply Bacillus thuringiensis, var. kurstaki or Monterey Garden Insect Spray (Spinosad) to the leaves of trees to kill gypsy moth caterpillars. For best results, sprays must be applied when caterpillars are young, less than one inch long.

Where do gypsy moth caterpillars come from?

Did you know? The gypsy moth is found mainly in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime provinces. These moths were accidentally introduced into Massachusetts in 1869 by a French naturalist trying to cross the European gypsy moth with North American silkworms.

Do gypsy moths come back every year?

Adult Gypsy moths emerge from the pupae in 10 to 14 days. They are present from July into August. Gypsy moth has only one generation per year. Gypsy moth populations will go through cycles in which the populations will increase for several years then decline, and then increase again.

What are the stages of gypsy moths?

After reaching maturity in early July, the gypsy moth caterpillars find a sheltered location in which to pupate (transform from larval stage to moth stage in a cocoon). The pupae are dark reddish-brown, usually with a few yellowish hairs. Female pupae are much larger than the male pupae.

What kind of habitat does the gypsy moth live in?

How long does it take for Gypsy Moth to pupate?

Gypsy moth cocoons are often found in crevices of thick bark or on the underside of branches, but can also be present on outdoor items such as picnic tables, dog houses, planters and vehicle wheel wells or bumpers. The pupation stage lasts approximately 10 to 14 days.

When do gypsy moth eggs hatch in Michigan?

Eggs hatch in spring, typically between early and mid-May in much of Lower Michigan, and in late May or mid-June further north. Close-up of gypsy moth eggs and hatching.

How big does a gypsy moth caterpillar get?

They can grow up to 2½ inches in length. When the caterpillars are full grown after about 2 months of eating leaves, they find a place to hide and transform into the pupal stage. The picture on the right shows a caterpillar in the process of turning into a pupa. A gypsy moth pupa is shown on the right.

What is a gypsy moth’s lifespan?

Adult gypsy moths do not feed and while gypsy moths may be present for two to three weeks in a local area, individual moths live only a few days. Female moths are white with black markings.

What kills gypsy moths?

When populations are low, gypsy moth caterpillars and adults can be killed by squishing them. Egg masses can be destroyed by scraping them off trees or other structures and dropping them in a container of detergent. During outbreaks, manual removal may not be practical.

Why are gypsy moths dangerous?

The main reason why the Moth are dangerous is, that they can spread very quickly. Additionally moths can invade nearly every place. The preferred places of these pests are cracks, crevices and holes in furniture, walls and ceilings, but also any other place which is difficult to access.

How are we managing gypsy moth?

The only way to manage Gypsy moths is to arrest their migration. The main strategy to manage Gypsy moth movement is called Slow-The-Spread (STS), which is designed to delay the amount of new territory invaded through trapping and applying insecticides.