Printer friendly version of complete document  (444 KB PDF) 

 European Gypsy Moths

April 2004

How do gypsy moths arrive in Washington State?

• Gypsy moths can come into Washington when people move here from infested states and accidentally transport egg masses attached to their vehicles, outdoor furniture, or other outdoor items.

• Washington State maintains a comprehensive grid of over 20,000 pheromone traps to detect new introductions of gypsy moth.

• Trapping allows for early detection and monitoring of introduced gypsy moths.

• Once a moth is caught, a high-density grid of traps is installed and egg mass searches are done to determine if moths have begun to breed and spread.

• Many introductions die out spontaneously.

• A detailed report of Washington trapping results is available from the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

 

Top

Next page:  Prevention in Western states:  "Nip it in the bud"

Return to European Gypsy Moth homepage

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