Printer friendly version of complete document  (444 KB PDF) 

 European Gypsy Moths

April 2004

Prevention in Western States: “Nip it in the bud”

• Once a breeding population of gypsy moth is established it is very difficult to get rid of.

• In the 19 Northeastern states where European Gypsy Moth has become established, several millions acres of forest land have been aerially sprayed with pesticides in order to suppress outbreaks of gypsy moth.

  • Many additional acres in urban and suburban areas have been treated with pesticides by local landowners, residents, and local governments.

• In the West, eradication efforts aim to pinpoint and eliminate gypsy moth populations before they become wide-spread.

• The goal is to prevent the need for repeated large-scale control efforts to suppress outbreaks and prevent increased use of insecticides by individual homeowners to kill caterpillars.

 

Top

Next page:  Gypsy moth control (Integrated Pest Management)

Return to European Gypsy Moth homepage

For more information about the Pesticides Program, please contact Cynthia López or 360-236-3340.