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Moth Problem
updated: Aug 07, 2012, 1:27 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

Has anyone else had problems with gypsy moths? We have had an infestation in our eucalptus trees the last few years, getting worse every year. Our deck is not useable due to to sap (?) and droppings. I have a call in to the county agricultural commission. I have also read about banding the tree. I don,t want to spray chemicals.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 305470	2012-08-07 01:36 PM
The moths are everywhere and really bad this year. From our deck up on Miramonte, looking towards downtown and the mountains, we look out over a large grove of trees, and there are thousands of moths flitting about around the tree tops.
RHS	2012-08-08 08:59 AM
Most of the moths present this year are oak tree moths. They have come and gone a couple of times in my neighborhood. They devastate the oak trees but within a short time the trees grow a new and greener set of replacement leaves. They are messy however, dropping worms and messy detritus. Don't know if we have gypsy moths or not. Didn't know that anything ate eucalyptus.
COMMENT 305721	2012-08-08 09:26 AM
Eucalyptus psyllids ("Lerps") arrived here about 10 years ago.
MTNDRIVER	2012-08-08 09:54 AM
Are you sure they're gypsy moths? I've not heard of them eating eucalyptus. We had those psyllids in a Euc. citriodora (lemon-scented gum) about ten years ago, but the tree recovered well. There was also a beetle infestation--long-horned borer--in the same tree about five years ago, but haven't seen any of those for several years either.
COMMENT 305756P	2012-08-08 10:01 AM
Eugene, OR had a severe gypsy moth outbreak several decades ago and they aerial sprayed several times with b.T. bacteria, bacillus Thurigensis, available for small areas as Green Light for Caterpillars liquid at Home Improvement, and in bulk powder form at Agri-Turf on Las Positas. Bad for caterpillars and butterflies/moths of all kinds and so-so bad for bees, otherwise fairly benign and OK for humans and pets. If it is gypsy moth, they spread -- calling the agriicultural commission was a good call.
RHS	2012-08-08 10:03 AM
Thanks for the info on lerps. Checked them out on line and they appear to look more like flies than moths. So what is being observed is probably oak tree moths. Is there any gypsy moth activity in this area? They can be devastating and are not part of our natural cycle as are oak tree moths.
COMMENT 305763	2012-08-08 10:09 AM
Gypsy moths eat a wide variety of deciduous trees, so if these are only eating Eucalyptus, they probably aren't gypsy moths. State and County Ag officials have been vigilant for decades trying to keep gypsy moths out of California. When we moved here from Connecticut they showed up a few days after our arrival to check for pupae on outdoor furniture, swing sets, barbecues or any other place they might hide. I don't know if they have been fully successful, but the best strategy is to prevent them from getting established in the first place.
COMMENT 306169	2012-08-09 08:07 AM
Agreed 763 - the Ag folks were here the day after unloading the van from PA. Bt does not create a risk for bees because they do not have the alkaline gut to activate the cry proteins which are the active ingredient.

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