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THE AMAZING GYPSY MOTH

Coordinator: Lucille Eisbrenner

 

Gypsy moth caterpillars can be annoying.  Although they feed on vegetation, large caterpillars will wander onto the house, garage, patio, deck, yard furniture, or any object associated with residential living.  When they do this in large numbers, especially after stripping trees of foliage, the experience can be unpleasant and upsetting.  Unhealthy trees are weakened when defoliated making them susceptible to other insects and disease problems that can kill them.

 

The egg mass laid in August by a female gypsy moth is the beginning of its life cycle.  They are buff colored intertwined in a matting of hair from the females’ body.  This hair is a good insulator and makes the egg very water repellent.  They are tear-drop shaped and approximately the size of a quarter with each mass containing from 50 to 1500 eggs.

PLEASE

DO NOT REMOVE GYPSY MOTH EGG MASSES UNTIL THE MONTH OF APRIL

 

If you remove them you could jeopardize your chances in meeting the eligibility requirements of the program which will result in not being sprayed next spring.  The best time to remove them would be around the Month of April.  To destroy the mass simply scrape it into a bucket of soapy water, let it soak for a day or two and then dispose of it.  Completing the egg mass removal is much easier in April than after they hatch in May.

 

Starting the month of September and running through early November field staff of the Gypsy Moth Suppression Program check private property in Roscommon County for egg masses laid by the female moth.  You can recognize these people by the blue colored vests that are worn with the words GYPSY MOTH printed on the back.  In order for us to check the whole county in a timely manner, it is impossible to obtain prior permission to enter each and every landowner’s property so if you object to the idea of allowing the staff on your property please call (989) 275-7135 and follow-up with a written request to not be checked.  This request will be kept on file in the office and reviewed each year prior to surveying.

 

Roscommon County’s suppression program is funded by a renewal of the yearly millage

collection that was passed in August 2000 with the exception of 2006, 2007 & 2008 when the county “Did Not Collect”. In years past, federal monies have been available for us to cost-share with Michigan’s Department of Agriculture.  Sometimes this money would help to offset the program costs by as much as 50%.  With so many federal budget cuts coming out of Washington DC this money is no longer available.

 

The SPRING SPRAY PROJECT treats with the natural-occurring bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).  This pesticide will be applied at a rate of ½ gallon per acre, and when eaten by the young caterpillars, it will cause them to stop eating and die within several days.  Bt is not harmful to humans, pets, birds, fish, water or other wildlife and has been used for over 40 years.  The fruits and vegetables that you buy in the grocery store were more than likely treated with this same Bt.

 

 

For further information (free of charge) about gypsy moth, including color illustrations of various life stages, and what to do in woodlots or around the home, contact Lucille Eisbrenner at (989) 275-7135 or stop by her office in the County Building, 500 Lake Street (M-18), Roscommon.