GYPSY MOTH IN INDIANA
THE GYPSY MOTH IN INDIANA
Cliff Sadof, Department of Entomology, Purdue University; Phil Marshall, State Forest Health Specialist, Megan Abraham, State Entomologist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
If you want to view as pdf, click here
Gypsy Moth, the most serious forest and urban landscape pest in the United States, is now in Indiana. In 1990 it defoliated over 8 million acres of U.S. forest, and, in 1992, defoliated over 650,000 acres in Michigan, alone. Oak leaves are their preferred food, but gypsy moth caterpillars can eat the foliage of 500 species of trees and plants. While most trees will produce new leaves after defoliation, repeated annual defoliation may kill trees in two to four years.
Gypsy moths are not native to the United States. Since their accidental introduction to Massachusetts in 1869, they have spread steadily westward. In 1998 gypsy moth became established in Steuben County, Indiana, and it is expected to spread to more counties each year in the near future.
Because adult female gypsy moths in North America cannot fly, natural spread of the gypsy moth occurs by other means. Young caterpillars crawl to treetops and are blown by the wind. People can increase the rate of gypsy moth spread when they unknowingly carry them from infested areas. You can help reduce losses from gypsy moth as they move through Indiana in the following ways.
Slow the spread. Learn the gypsy moth’s biology, how to recognize its life stages, and where it can be found so you do not transport it to uninfested parts of the state or country.
Maintain tree health. Keep trees watered, particularly during dry periods in the summer. Apply a 2-inch mulch of composted hardwood chips around the base of your trees to avoid wounding trunks with lawn mowers or weed trimmers. Diversify your new plantings. When designing new plantings, be sure to include a few trees that are less preferred by gypsy moth. (See tree species preference list on page 2.) Gypsy Moth Management Approach The battle to rid the Midwest of the gypsy moth was lost long ago. Treating isolated infestations with insecticides outside the generally infested area will slow the spread of gypsy moth. But spraying insecticides will only temporarily reduce the numbers of caterpillars. The wide range of insects, diseases, and animals that feed on gypsy moth provide more long-lasting control. These natural enemies are the reason that trees and forests still thrive in areas where this pest has been present for over 100 years. Where gypsy moth has already been established in Indiana, environmentally safe tools that foster and conserve the natural enemies of gypsy moth will be used to maintain the appearance of urban forests and the health of woodland ecosystems. Where it’s not yet established, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will continue the trapping program it began in 1973 to detect man-made introductions. Distinguishing Gypsy Moths from Other Fuzzy Caterpillars Time of Year Gypsy moths are only in the caterpillar stage from late April through early June. Other common caterpillars present at this time of year do not have the gypsy moth’s distinctive pairs of blue and red dots. Presence of Webs Several web-producing caterpillars have been fairly abundant in recent years, so it is particularly important not to confuse them with the gypsy moth. Gypsy moths do not produce extensive webbing. Eastern tent caterpillars are present in April and May, but, unlike the gypsy moth, they spend their days in masses of white webs in the centers of trees. Eastern tent caterpillars have a distinctive white stripe on their backs and lack the gypsy moth’s paired blue and red dots. The fall webworm is a white hairy caterpillar with black dots that will web branch ends and is commonly visible in late summer from roadsides. Moving Out of Generally Infested Areas People moving to uninfested parts of the country or state from generally infested areas are required to inspect their household items prior to moving. They can either do the inspection themselves or hire a Qualified Certified Approved Inspector (QCA). Guidelines for self-inspection are detailed in USDA APHIS Program Aid 1329, “ Don’t Move Gypsy Moth.” This guide and a list of QCA Inspectors can be obtained from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (317) 232-4120. Frequently Asked Questions Will gypsy moth kill my trees? Not always. If an oak or other hardwood tree is completely defoliated during the summer, it may look like it’s dead. If the trees are affected by other stress factors, such as drought, disease, or poor growing conditions, there is a good chance that they will die. In contrast, healthy hardwood trees can have a greater chance of surviving complete defoliation. These trees will produce a second set of leaves, usually in late July or August, that will help the tree produce enough energy for it to survive the winter. Repeated complete defoliation can kill even healthy trees. If coniferous trees, like pines and spruces, are completely defoliated, they will die. Partial defoliation may not always kill them. Can the gypsy moth ever be eliminated from Indiana? No. The gypsy moth is already established in parts of Indiana. Current efforts focus on slowing the spread to uninfested areas. Can I get a trap for my lawn to control the gypsy moths in my yard? No. The only traps available are sex pheromone traps. These attract males and do not kill enough moths to protect your trees. How can I kill the gypsy moth to protect my trees? You are the first line of defense for protecting your trees. Learn what the gypsy moth looks like, and inspect your yard for egg masses hidden on trees, firewood, and outdoor structures. Destroy what you find. Use cloth or barrier bands to trap and kill gypsy moth caterpillars as they crawl up and down the trunks of your trees. Timely application of biological insecticides like Bacillus thuringiensis when caterpillars are less than 1-inch long can protect the health of valued trees in your landscape without harming the natural enemies of gypsy moth and other landscape pests. Application of insecticides with the active ingredient spinosad can kill even longer caterpillars and still have less of an impact on beneficial insects than most other products. Commonly available, broad spectrum insecticides with the active ingredient, acephate, bifenthrin, carbaryl, cyfluthrin, fluvalinate, malathion, or permethrin can kill caterpillars when applied in accordance with label directions. Do insecticides used to control gypsy moth harm bees and other pollinators? Bacillus thuringiensis will only kill the caterpillar stage of gypsy moth and other butterflies and moths. It spares the other pollinators including bees, beetles and flies. All of the other pesticides will kill bees if allowed to forage on flowers within a day after treatment. Avoid applying these products on trees with a canopy that is over flowers that are actively blooming. How will the gypsy moth change the forest? The first wave of defoliation will cause the most substantial changes to the forest. Changes include: • Reduction in numbers of preferred trees, like oaks, in the forest. • Increased surface water runoff in areas where large numbers of trees have been killed. • Forest regeneration in open areas. Subsequent gypsy moth outbreaks will occur and continue to change the forest to a lesser extent. However, despite regular incidences of gypsy moth infestation, parts of the country that have had gypsy moth for over 100 years still have a thriving forest. Forests will continue to be prominent features of Indiana landscapes long after the gypsy moth has become established. How will the gypsy moth change urban areas? As with forests, the first wave of gypsy moths will cause the most shocking effects. Although much of the urban forest can be protected during an outbreak, gypsy moth will be a nuisance. Expect an abundance of caterpillars dropping fecal material from trees, allergic reactions to airborne caterpillar hairs, and pupae and egg masses plastered to homes and outdoor items. When large numbers of gypsy moths are killed by diseases or pesticide applications, the abundance of unsightly decaying caterpillars and their associated odor will add to the nuisance. Fortunately, because gypsy moth populations cycle, these problems will not be a permanent feature of any one landscape. My county has been quarantined for gypsy moth. What does this mean? Counties become quarantined after spot infestations of gypsy moth can no longer be eradicated. This action is designed to prevent accidental shipment of live gypsy moths to uninfested counties. Outdoor items, including lumber, Christmas trees, and nursery stock, will need to be inspected and certified to be free of gypsy moth before they’re shipped to uninfested counties. Shipment within the area regulated for gypsy moth (see map) is not restricted. (Also see the section above on “Moving Out of Generally Infested Areas.”) To REPORT Gypsy Moth • Download and use the Great Lakes Early Detection Network App for Android or iPhone. • Contact the Indiana DNR at 866-NO-EXOTIC. FOR MORE GYPSY MOTH INFORMATION • Visit Purdue Extension Entomology's Gypsy Moth Information Web Site to download free GM series bulletins and get the latest information. • Order the GM series bulletins at your Purdue County Extension office or by calling 765-494-8491. • Contact the Department of Entomology, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN, 47907-1158, 765-494-5983, or Indiana Department of Natural Resources at 317-232-4120.
Diagnostic characters of the brown marmorated stink bug Pentatomidae: Halyomorphoa halys).
Brown-banded cockroach.
Leaf-footed bug.
Brown marmorated stink bug adults and nymphs feed on a wide variety of host plants, including fruits, ornamental plants, trees, weeds, soybeans and vegetables. They damage plants by inserting their long piercing-sucking mouth parts into the plant and withdrawing juices. Damage symptoms include shrunken and distorted fruits, necrotic spotting, and discoloration including ‘cat facing’ that render the fruits unmarketable as fresh products.
In Indiana, adults emerge during the spring (late April to mid-May), but are attracted to homes and buildings starting in September and continuing through October. During this time BMSB seek cracks and crevices around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, chimneys, and underneath fascia in which to squeeze themselves. This behavior often results in brown marmorated stink bugs finding their way into wall voids and eventually into the inside of homes.
Although they do not feed or breed inside homes, they become a pest because of their presence and the odor they create, particularly as they are disturbed during warmer sunny periods throughout the winter and spring.
Mechanical exclusion is the best method to keep stink bugs from entering homes and buildings. Be certain that window and doors fit tightly and are closed when possible. Screens should be in proper condition and also must fit tightly if they are to keep BMSB out. Seal cracks around windows, doors, utility pipes, and vents with foam or silicone caulk.
Brown marmorated stink bug (left) compared to native brown stink bug (right).
Exterior surface applications of insecticides may offer some protection if applied when and where the stink bugs appear. Professional pest managers offer this as a service.
Inside homes, stink bugs can be removed manually and dropped into a container of soapy water. This not only kills them but also offers some relief from their foul odor. Both live and dead stink bugs also can be removed from interior areas by using a broom and dustpan or with the aid of a vacuum cleaner. Either way, they should be killed rather than released outside so that they do not simply reenter the home. Stink bugs left inside a vacuum cleaner may give off a disagreeable odor. An inexpensive method of trapping BMSB is to shine a desk lamp into a pan filled with soapy water. In a dark room the bugs are attracted to the light and then fall into the water and drown.
Underside of brown marmorated stink bug depicting piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Brown marmorated stink bugs attracted to windows during late summer and fall.
READ AND FOLLOW ALL LABEL INSTRUCTIONS. THIS INCLUDES DIRECTIONS FOR USE, PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS (HAZARDS TO HUMANS, DOMESTIC ANIMALS, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES), ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, RATES OF APPLICATION, NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, REENTRY INTERVALS, HARVEST RESTRICTIONS, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL, AND ANY SPECIFIC WARNINGS AND/OR PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING OF THE PESTICIDE.
March 2017
It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service that all persons have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats.
This work is supported in part by Extension Implementation Grant 2017-70006-27140/ IND011460G4-1013877 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
765-494-8491
www.extension.purdue.edu
Order or download materials from edustore.purdue.edu
