Gypsy Moths

LifeCycle Calendar
Note: "Hiding bands" are made of 12-18" wide strips of burlap or heavy cloth attached around the trunk of a susceptible tree.  The burlap is usually held in place by being folded over a length of string or twine tied around the trunk.  Vertically cutting the burlap into flaps will facilitate inspection and removal of caterpillars.  (A 12-18" burlap square may be placed on small trees that are difficult to band. See the picture on the previous page).   Caterpillars will hide under the burlap during the day, and can be easily removed and destroyed by being brushed into a container of soapy water.  The hiding band should be checked for caterpillars daily from mid-June to July.

Even though the burlap is unsightly, it may be desirable to leave it in place during caterpillar pupation and the adult egg-laying period (July-August).  The adult female moth does not fly and will not move far from the place that pupation occurred.  The female seeks a protected place to deposit the egg mass, such as behind a burlap flap.  Providing that type of "hiding place" enables homeowners more easily to locate and destroy the egg masses.  Remove all the burlap in September.  

	Life Stage	Management Options
January February March April	Egg Masses present (late August through early May)	Search for and destroy egg masses by scraping them into a container with a putty knife.  They can be buried in 6" soil, burned or soaked in soapy water for 48 hours. Homeowner assistance with egg mass destruction can remove about 25% of the egg masses if all within arms reach of the ground are found.  Each egg mass destroyed could eliminate several hundred caterpillars.
May	Eggs hatch (early May)	Apply insecticides (Bt) if needed (most effective when caterpillars are small)
June July	Caterpillars Present (early May through mid-July) Caterpillars pupate (mid-July)	Place hiding bands, remove and destroy caterpillars (see note below)
August	Adult moths present (late July-August)
September October November December	Egg masses present  (late August through early May)	Remove hiding bands. Search for and report egg masses found to the Forestry Division Don't scrape them until after January 1 to encourage egg parasitism.  Also, the Forestry Division conducts annual egg mass survey  October through December)