If you miss some eggs and find gypsy moth caterpillars next year, there are additional methods of control. You can find egg masses on the underside of branches and on the trunks of trees (use a putty knife or other scraping tool to dislodge the egg mass, and then drop it into soapy water for 24 hours). Each egg mass destroyed in the fall and winter eliminates 400 to 500 caterpillars that would hatch out in the spring. Posted by KarenMBern at 04:42:53 PM on February 20, 2018 (Photographs courtesy of Jeffrey Carroll) In my last entry, I mentioned that it's about time to be thinking of scraping spotted lanternfly egg masses off trees and other objects on your property. • An alternative to physically removing egg masses is to saturate egg masses before hatch with a solution of horticultural oil. The gypsy moth hibernates in egg masses that are covered with tan or buff-coloured hairs, and may be found on tree trunks or bark, outdoor furniture, or the sides of buildings. To learn more about other non-native pest that are established or have yet to arrive in our Michigan forests visit Michigan State University Extension’s Invasive Species Page. Don’t leave the eggs or bits of egg mass on the ground – those eggs can often hatch the following spring. This will smother the gypsy moth larvae (caterpillars) within the eggs. Now, the deciduous trees have been producing new leaves. Julie Crick, Michigan State University Extension - Categories: Gardening. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis, var. For those who may be allergic to gypsy moth caterpillars, you should minimize contact with the insect by wearing long-sleeved shirts and by drying clothes indoors during an outbreak. Gypsy moth egg masses are tan-colored lumps about the size of a nickel or quarter, and usually contain 500 to 1,000 eggs. Wear gloves and protect exposed skin from the egg masses while removing them.Should you develop a rash, apply cold compresses and calamine lotion to the affected area. Use a paint scraper or a knife to lift off egg mass and dispose of it. Spring caterpillar hatch can be lessened without using chemicals by finding and eliminating the egg masses from which the caterpillars hatch. If the County you live in does not have a control program, consider removing egg masses as you see them from September – April, before hatch occurs. Copyright © 2009, Purdue University, all rights reserved, site authors Cliff Sadof, An equal access/equal opportunity university. The egg masses are about the size of a loonie, and may contain from 100 to 1,000 eggs. Gypsy Moth Egg Mass Search Why – The gypsy moth caterpillar eats the leaves of trees, which can impact the overall health of the tree. Spray the oil onto the egg mass until it is soaked. Removing (and destroying) egg masses is an easy, inexpensive way to reduce gypsy moth populations. Search for gypsy moth egg masses on trees, firewood and outdoor furniture. Do not use motor oil, mineral oils, non-horticultural oils or others not labeled for gypsy moth. Gypsy moth control surveys are usually done in the fall, and it is important that the surveyors are able to get a true count of gypsy moth populations. If you scrape off egg … Depending on the location, egg laying is complete by mid-September. Eliminating egg masses now will prevent leaf eating caterpillars next spring. The result is a small mound of caterpillar eggs and hair that can survive even a Northern Michigan winter. Gypsy moth is a non-native pest that has adapted to Michigan forested landscapes. Photo credit: Hannes Lemme, Bugwood.org. They are often on tree trunks and branches, under window sills, in doorways, underneath outdoor furniture and tables, on brick or rock walls, under gutters – just about anywhere. Spray the oil onto the egg mass until it is saturated. Spray the nest of eggs with a horticultural oil spray formulated for gypsy moths when the temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Following their escape from Mr. E. Leopold Trouvelot's property in 1869, gypsy moths became an annoyance, then a bother, then a major problem when in the spring of 1889, the population of gypsy moths exploded in Medford, Massachusetts. Once caterpillars reach the maturity, they pupate for around 10-14 days within a hard shell that the caterpillar locates in a corner, or crevasse, or within the ridges of the bark of a tree. The spotted lanternfly egg mass, left, is muddy in appearance. Gypsy moth laying eggs. Check for egg masses before covering your wood. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If you spot an egg mass, destroy the eggs and then cover the wood. You can make your own spray using vegetable oil and water and dishwashing liquid. To remove egg masses, slide the blade of a knife or paint scraper under the egg mass, lift the mass off, and dispose of it. Soak the egg masses in soapy water overnight to kill them, and then they can be bagged and sent to the landfill. While the female moth is laying the eggs, she plucks hairs off of her abdomen and mixes it in with the eggs. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. When populations are low, gypsy moth caterpillars and adults can be killed by squishing them. The timing of egg mass removal depends on if the County in which you live has a gypsy moth control program. If it does, best to remove egg masses in the spring, after the control program has conducted surveys to find egg masses in an effort to predict the following year’s caterpillar populations and determine corresponding treatment areas. Through the years gypsy moth has ‘hitched a ride’ on some of these objects and expanded their Michigan range. Do not remove the egg sacks from the tree, spray them right where they are. kurstaki or Monterey Garden Insect Spray (Spinosad)to the leaves of trees to kill gypsy moth caterpillars. Do not use motor oil or mineral oils. You can also burn them of your wish. They may also be found in protected places such as firewood piles and bird houses. Use a small paint scrapper or other gentle tool to remove the egg masses. You can tell how bad the infestation is by the size of the egg mass. See the Caterpillar Comparison Chart to determine which type you have. The gypsy moth eggs, right, are covered in brown hairs and appear fuzzy. This information is for educational purposes only. Leaving them on the ground after removal does not destroy the eggs which will then hatch in the spring. Scrape The Egg Masses. This article is the second of two written by Michigan State University Extension that give an overview of the caterpillar – moth life cycle and how and where to find and remove egg masses in an effort to provide non-chemical control options to landowners. Show your Spartan pride and give the gift of delicious MSU Dairy Store cheese this holiday season! And I thought it would make a lot of difference. You should scrape off any egg masses you find and soak them in soapy … Check for and Destroy Gypsy Moth Egg Masses Total People in Discussion: 0 . Gypsy Moth Egg Masses • An option to physically removing egg masses is to saturate egg masses before hatch with a solution of horticultural oil labeled for gypsy moth (available at garden stores). Don’t drop them on the ground or put them in your composter as the caterpillars will still emerge. Gypsy moth caterpillars, Lymantria dispar, are well known in some parts of Michigan for their voracious appetite of especially oak, but also basswood, aspen, apple crabapple and willow tree leaves. Egg masses should be destroyed by soaking them in a bucket of warm, soapy water overnight. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. Egg masses are present from mid-summer through spring in Indiana, nearly nine months, so there is plenty of time to find and destroy them before they hatch. Because the following year’s population is contained in the egg masses, a non-chemical option for control is removal and disposal of the egg masses. Finding Egg Masses As the range of the gypsy moth expands, there is a need to educate forest pest management personnel and others on methods available for estimating egg mass populations. This will attract the gypsy moths. Each egg mass can contain anywhere between 50-1,500 eggs of caterpillars, so removal can be the best way to eliminate these messy caterpillars in your landscape. Ifyou do find evidence ofgypsy moth on yourproperty, please call your municipal offices and let them know. Remove objects around the yard that may harbor gypsy moth egg masses. September to late April: Remove and destroy egg masses. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Because the female moths cannot fly, and the caterpillars travel mainly by using silk strings and the wind, the eggs will usually be laid on or near the property from which it hatched. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. 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