Gypsy Caterpillar infestation - HELP!
 

Having a Gypsy Caterpillar infestation in my yard.
Mostly attacking oak trees.

Suggestions appreciated for combatting.

How long will these continue to be around?

Gypsy moth control
 

We had a major problem with gypsy moths in NH 25(?) years ago. Lasted about halfway through the summer. We wrapped hardwood trees with duct tape several inches wide, then put a strip of petroleum jelly in the middle. The tape was to protect the tree. The jelly was to prevent the caterpillars from climbing the tree to eat the leaves. You may have to replace jelly periodically due to melting and rain. More info:
http://www.planetnatural.com/pest-pr...-moth-control/

They will eventually turn to moths in and lay egg masses on the primarily on the bases of the trees in early fall. Spray the egg masses with and horticultural oil and it will aid in the them not hatching well next year. For this year not much you can do. Once they hatch and are in the trees they arent going anywhere. Most trees like oaks and maples can handle the defoliation for a couple years without killing the tree and the gypsies seem to peak over a period of 2 years and then begin to taper off through normal cycle I believe. I'm in Rowley and we are year #2 of infestation. You go outside and all you hear is the poop falling from the trees. Sounds like its raining. Basically you wont be hanging your laundry out for a couple summers.

I was witness to the monster infestation years ago too.
Went tent camping and the little turd balls they throw were everywhere...then It rained and the turdballs blew up like balloons and were soft like mush.
What a mess all over everything...vehicles, tent, everything. Useless little bugs if you ask me...😝

Here is a pretty good desciption and remedies for gypsy moths.http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/gypsymoth/gypsy.htm

Birds such as Blue Jays and Orioles, as well as several small mammals, would likely disagree with you. They eat the caterpillars and larvae.

I thought part of the huge problem way back when was that birds didn't eat them? Maybe a few Warblers but I thought that was it.

Try this page: http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/raffa...thGoodGuys.pdf

Are you talking about central mass or the lake? I remember the last gypsy moth invasion, it was gross. Defoliated all the trees then they started on the pine trees. I think it was finally a virus that took them out, all the man made stuff was ineffective.

I did this today, and it stopped the caterpillars dead in their tracks. I wrapped trees abount 2 ft from bottom of trunks.
I remember I did the same about 20 yrs ago during the last infestation I recall.

They come down from the trees in the morning to rest I'm told, then back up in the tress in the afternoon.

Sure enough, I wrapped trees around noon today, around 1:00pm they started to climb back up the trees but wouldn't cross the tape !
Who knew they could tell time ! :)

ITD..... FYI I'm located in Central Mass.


Thanks Descant for your comment !

I think it was about 35 yrs ago. I remember riding my bike, late 70's I believe, You could run over 30 to 50 per minute. That was when no one heard of them, It was the big news story of the summer, Impending disaster. It was disgusting.

Denuded trees
 

Yes I remember it. I was living in RI. The entire forest was denuded by the gypsy moth caterpillars. Armegeddon it was! Turns out once they ate all the leaves off every darn tree--it was surreal-- they starved off and that was the end of it.

"Nature finds a way" (Prof. Ian Malcolm)

There is actually a wasp that kills them off. I believe it is called a "Spanish wasp". The wasp injects their eggs into the caterpillar. They are an invasive species that was brought over from England to try and produce "silk". Someone from Framingham MA, introduced them.

I lived in Worcester when the last invasion happened, defoliated almost all the trees. It was nasty.

I remember
 

It was so bad in Mass where I lived. It was like living in a science fiction movie. there were so many that you could actually hear them eating the leaves (that's not an exaggeration). And the poop all over your car........they are nasty

I new it! Behind every major screw up, There stands a Mass Hole..... Sorry, I can't help myself.