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75 gypsy moths trapped in Washington last summer

OLYMPIA –  A destructive forest pest, the gypsy moth, continues to pop up in Washington. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) caught 75 gypsy moths at 18 sites this summer – more than twice the number caught in 2005. At seven of the sites, WSDA entomologists captured more than one moth.

The site with the most captured moths was in Kent, where WSDA’s small, green cardboard tent traps lured 43 moths. Other multiple-catch sites were: Olympia, seven moths; Bangor (Kitsap County), four moths; Federal Way, four moths; Monroe (Snohomish County), two moths; Seabeck (Kitsap County), two moths; and Smokey Point (Snohomish County), two moths.

At 11 sites, WSDA caught single moths: Auburn, Carnation, Fife, Kalama, Kitsap County Airport, Poulsbo, Sammamish, Village Park (King County), San Juan Island, Shoreline, and Tahuya (Mason County). These areas will be heavily trapped next summer.
WSDA placed more than 24,000 traps in the field in June and monitored them throughout the summer. WSDA employees are now conducting physical inspections of the multiple-catch sites, looking for additional evidence of gypsy moth activity, such as egg masses and pupal cases. State entomologists will review the results of the inspections before determining whether to propose an eradication treatment for next spring.

The gypsy moth is one of America’s worst forest pests. It attacks more than 500 species of deciduous and evergreen trees, has defoliated millions of U.S. trees and spreads relentlessly once established. Gypsy moths normally arrive in Washington in the form of egg masses attached to outdoor articles, such as picnic tables, birdhouses, and children’s toys brought here from infested states, primarily from the East Coast and upper Midwest. Some moths arrive on foreign ships docked at Washington ports.

The number of moths caught yearly in Washington varies widely – ranging from a high of 1,315 moths in 1983, to a low of 17 in 2002. WSDA caught 31 moths (15 sites) in 2005, 68 moths (24 sites) in 2004, and 59 moths (17 sites) in 2003.

Permanent populations of gypsy moth have never been detected in Washington. All moths caught this summer underwent a DNA analysis and have been determined to be European gypsy moths.

Persons with questions on WSDA’s gypsy moth program are encouraged to call the department’s toll-free hotline (1-800-443-6684) or visit the agency’s gypsy moth home page at http://agr.wa.gov/PlantsInsects/InsectPests/GypsyMoth/default.htm.
 

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