Gypsy moths have been damaging forests in the United States for more than 1–hundred years.

Minnesota and Wisconsin have avoided their devastating effects until recently.

The North Shore is their most recent target.
LeAnn Wallace tells us how the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is trying to slow the spread.

When it comes to food choices a Gypsy Moth isn't picky.

"It attacks over 3–hundred species of woody plants and so it's very non–discriminating."

The effects of these invasive insects can be devastating... potentially killing–off entire forests.

Gypsy Moths were first introduced into the United States in the late 18–hundreds, and up until about 40–years ago, Minnesota hasn't had to worry about their destruction.

Active gypsy moths greatly affect the entire area in which they congregate.

"Especially up here in the North Shore there's a lot of tourism and people arrive and they don't want to see defoliated trees so the economic impact can be felt, you know for places who rely on the esthetics of their natural surroundings for income, you know, timber harvesting those are all impacted by dead or dying trees."

Planes from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture have been skimming North Shore tree tops this week, dispersing a pheromone treatment to slow the population growth of gypsy moths.
The process is called mating–disruption.

"The whole area basically smells like female gypsy moths and so the males are very confused, they aren't able to follow a single trail to find a female to mate and since they have limited energy reserves for their short lives, if they don't find a female then they run out of gas basically and die."

"5 planes like the yellow one behind me have treated 68–thousand acres of the North Shore this weekend, but there are also things you can do to help stop the spread."

Gypsy moths cover about a–mile a year, but by hitchhiking they can get a lot farther, faster.

When camping or traveling, check your vehicles and all other outdoor equipment such as tents, campers, and picnic tables, for gypsy moth eggs.

One egg can hatch up to 1–thousand gypsy moths.
On the North Shore, LeAnn Wallace, the Northlands News Center.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has been successful in slowing the rate of gypsy moth spread, but acknowledges it is impossible to wipe out the species.

For more information about gypsy moths and what to do if you suspect they're in your yard, visit our website.

The DNR recomends destroying any eggs you might find in your yard...maintaining healthy trees so they are less–likely to become infested, and in some cases the use of a pesticide.

You can also call the Arrest-The-Pest Hotline: 1-888-545-MOTH (6684)