Source: NCDA&CS, 9/18/15

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking input from residents in Dare County concerning planned treatment activities for the non-native, highly destructive gypsy moth.

Field monitoring activities conducted by the department have determined that reproducing populations of the gypsy moth exist in the vicinity of Buxton Woods State Reserve and represent a threat to hardwood trees. Residents in or near the proposed treatment areas have been sent notices by mail.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Fessenden Center at 46830 N.C. 12 in Buxton. Information on treatment options for a 2,500-acre area will be discussed.

In early spring, gypsy moth caterpillars feed on the leaves of hundreds of plant species, predominantly hardwood trees. In heavily infested areas, trees may be completely stripped of foliage, leaving entire forests more susceptible to attacks from other pests.

Gypsy moths can also be a nuisance to the general public. Caterpillars may migrate in search of food, sometimes entering houses and falling into swimming pools. Some people can have allergic reactions to the caterpillars’ tiny hairs.
Options for dealing with gypsy moth infestations include aerial spraying of biological pesticides or gypsy moth mating disruptants. Trapping grids will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of these treatments.

The department has addressed spot introductions of the gypsy moth in several areas across North Carolina since the 1970s. The department is working with nine other states through the Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Foundation and with other state and federal agencies to reduce the expansion of the gypsy moth into uninfested areas of the country.