Gypsy Moth Larve
Gypsy Moth Caterpillar
Gypsy Moth Winged
The gypsy moth is one of North America's most destructive tree pests. In eastern states with significant infestations, gypsy moth caterpillars have
defoliated entire forests and caused millions of dollars of damage to urban landscapes. Minnesota participates in a multi-state effort to prevent or delay this harmful pest from becoming established here.
Gypsy moth infestations are common from maritime Canadian provinces south to North Carolina and as far west as central Wisconsin. There are no known permanent populations of gypsy moths in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is responsible for ongoing monitoring to detect high moth concentrations. They organize a trapping program each summer to look for moths across the state. Cooperation from landowners and land managers is essential for our success.
If gypsy moths are found, standard treatment protocols are followed to eradicate the pest or diminish its population. They use approved treatments such as a biological insecticide (Btk) and mating disruptants that mimic the female gypsy moth's pheromone.
Regulations to contain the pest populations are updated each year by the federal government in cooperation with the states. Regulatory decisions are based on data from the trapping program. It is illegal to knowingly transport any life stage of the gypsy moth out of a quarantined area. Businesses that regularly remove high-risk materials from the quarantine can apply for a compliance agreement with the MDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This agreement specifies terms of
movement to minimize the risk of introducing gypsy moths to uninfested areas.
Gypsy moth infestations are common from maritime Canadian provinces south to North Carolina and as far west as central Wisconsin. There are no known permanent populations of gypsy moths in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is responsible for ongoing monitoring to detect high moth concentrations. They organize a trapping program each summer to look for moths across the state. Cooperation from landowners and land managers is essential for our success.
If gypsy moths are found, standard treatment protocols are followed to eradicate the pest or diminish its population. They use approved treatments such as a biological insecticide (Btk) and mating disruptants that mimic the female gypsy moth's pheromone.
Regulations to contain the pest populations are updated each year by the federal government in cooperation with the states. Regulatory decisions are based on data from the trapping program. It is illegal to knowingly transport any life stage of the gypsy moth out of a quarantined area. Businesses that regularly remove high-risk materials from the quarantine can apply for a compliance agreement with the MDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This agreement specifies terms of
movement to minimize the risk of introducing gypsy moths to uninfested areas.
