Major Hosts:
The most common host is oak but will feed on most hardwoods and sometimes spruce.

Key Features:
 Insect: Caterpillars (larvae) have five pairs of blue spots on the body near the head followed by six pairs of red spots.  The egg mass is a tan colored felt-like mass laid on tree trunks, rocks, or other surfaces.  Female moths are large with body and wings being a cream-white color with black spots and are flightless.  Males have broad wings, tiny bodies, and are mainly brown with darker markings.  The males will fly during the day.

Damage: Defoliation of many species of hardwood trees, some defoliation of conifers by later larval instars

Control/Management:
Landowners with large wooded tracts impacted by gypsy moth can work with neighboring landowners and ODA to apply for aerial suppression treatments. If detected outside the current quarantine area, please report the finding either to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Division of Forestry, or use the Great Lakes Early Detection Network smartphone app.

Indicator Plants / Insect Activity:

First bloom of Redbud            191 GDD
Egg hatch                              192 GDD
Optimal time to spray           370 GDD
First bloom of black cherry     368 GDD

Resources

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• Fact Sheet - Ontarios Invading Species Awareness Program
• Insects and Diseases of Trees in the South - USDA Forest Service
• A Guide to Common Insects and Diseases of Forest Trees in the Northeastern United States - USDA Forest Service
• A Field Guide to Common Insect Pests of Urban Trees in the Northeast - Vermont FPR
• Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States - USDA Forest Service
• Fact Sheet - USDA APHIS PPQ
• Poster - Georgia Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey

Selected Images

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Invasive Listing Sources

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• Delaware Invasive Species Council Invasive Species List
• Idaho Invasive Species Act
• Indiana Pest Species
• Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia
• Iowa Tree Pests
• Maryland Invasive Species Council - Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
• New Hampshire Prohibited Invasive Species
• New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
• New York Regulated and Prohibited Invasive Species - Prohibited
• Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
• North American Forest Commission Exotic Forest Pest Information System
• Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program Tracked Species List
• South Carolina Plant Pest List
• USDA APHIS Regulated Pest List
• Virginia Invasive Species Management Plan 2012
• West Virginia Invasive Species Strategic Plan and Volunteer Guidelines 2014
• Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40

References

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Common Name Reference: Bosik, J. J. Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms 1997. Lanham, MD: Entomological Society of America (ESA), 1997. 232 pp.

Scientific Name Reference: R.W. Poole and P. Gentili, Nomina Insecta Nearctica. 1996. Nomina insecta nearctica: a checklist of the insects of North America. Vol. 1-4. Rockville (MD): Entomological Information Services. Available at URL: http://www.nearctica.com/nomina/main.htm