Gypsy Moths in North America
The damage caused by gypsy moths can have long-lasting impacts on local ecosystems and economies, making prevention and control efforts critical for the health and well-being of communities.
The Gypsy Moths’ invasion of North America dates back to the French coup d’etat staged by Napoléon Bonaparte‘s nephew, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte. A member of this “self-coup” was 23-year-old Étienne Léopold Trouvelot. While it is unknown whether Trouvelot fled France or was exiled after the coup, by 1855, he had emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts. There he became interested in natural sciences, even going as far as to join the Boston Society of Natural History. When the American Civil War began in 1861, and cotton production began to plummet, Trouvelot saw a massive opening in the textile industry when the disease hit the traditional silk moth.
In 1869, Trouvelot got his hands on European Gypsy Moth eggs in Boston, Massachusetts. Reputable sources dispute each other on whether or not Trouvelot went and got the moths from France or if he had a friend from France send them over. Nevertheless, when he attempted to raise the moths in his backyard, some made it out into the wild, sparking their rapid growth across the nation. Once only found in parts of Europe, today, the Gypsy Moth now resides in many parts of the Northeast United States and Canada.
What Threat do Gypsy Moths Pose?
Gypsy Moths pose a substantial economic and ecological problem within North America. Due to the lack of natural predators in most North American ecosystems, gypsy moths feast on hardwood trees, leaves, and other plants unchecked at alarming rates. Over five hundred variations of plants can be easily stripped of their leaves and left for dead due to their inability to accomplish photosynthesis. As a result, tree defoliation along streams causes a rise in water temperatures. This can lead to fish and other aquatic life suffering at the hands of the gypsy moth. In addition to their effects on nature, gypsy moths also have negative effects on human life.
Gypsy Moths’ Effects on Urban Areas
In urban areas, gypsy moths have less of an impact than they do in the wild. Like in the wild, gypsy moths still annihilate trees which reduces shade along streets and in residential areas. Additionally, gypsy moths’ wings contain histamine. Histamines are responsible for allergen response within your body, which means when in contact with these histamines one can experience sneezing, itching, and tearing up, among other side effects associated with allergies.
Life Cycle of Gypsy Moths
The Gypsy Moth grows as a new generation each year. They grow in 4 developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. After they hatch from their eggs (8-9 months), the larvae feast upon plant and tree leaves along with the other 500-1000 eggs they birth with. Unlike many other moths and butterflies, adult Gypsy Moths don’t feed. The only function of an adult Gypsy Moth is to reproduce.
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Preventing the Spread of Gypsy Moths
There are a few reasons Gypsy Moths have not spread across the entire country. When gypsy moths migrate west, they do it gradually due to the female gypsy moth’s inability to fly. Additionally, when the gypsy moth population in an area begins to increase over the course of a decade, a fungal pathogen called entomophaga maimaiga dominates the large populations of gypsy moths by quickly killing larvae and creating clouds of spores with the ability to travel up to 40 miles away.
Even with these natural population and migration inhibitors, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has devised a document to inspect shipments before crossing out of quarantined states and territories (this includes quarantined areas of Canada). This inspection can either be done by the shipper or by a professional. The checklist must accompany all shipments to ensure egg pods do not cross the protective territories.
Quarantined States
Statewide Quarantine
Partial Statewide Quarantine
Minnesota
Ohio
For a complete list including all of the specific counties quarantined in each state, click here.
Quarantined Territories (Canada)
Eastern Canada was introduced to these moths in 1912 by a shipment of birch trees from Japan. The quarantine caused by the Gypsy Moth in Canada covers most of the area of these territories:
Importing From Other Countries
Many ships import goods from Asian gypsy moth high-risk areas, not to be confused with the European gypsy moth currently infesting the northeastern United States. These high-risk areas are parts of Japan, Russia, China, and all of the Republic of Korea. Importing from these areas is generally not an issue until the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) determined risk periods. During a PPQ-determined risk period, it is requested that all ships from high-risk areas acquire certification that states they are free from Asian gypsy moths before departure.
Certified vessels will have additional research done on them to determine whether or not an inspection is necessary upon arrival. Vessels without certification prior to arrival to the U.S. will receive a gypsy moth inspection if their itinerary suggests risk; this will be a sizable delay for the ship. If Asian gypsy moths are suspected on a ship, the ship will have additional re-inspections. Still, if they are found on board, then Customs and Border Protection will send that ship back to its origin country.
Navigate to the USDA’s “Special Procedures for Ships Arriving from Areas with Asian Gypsy Moth” for more information.
Shipping Lumber
Lumber is the most susceptible product to the possible invasion of gypsy moths. Gypsy moth larvae eat oaks, aspen, apple, sweetgum, speckled alder, basswood, gray and paper birch, poplar, willow, and hawthorns, among other species of trees like conifer (Christmas trees). It is crucial that all lumber gets a thorough inspection when shipping from quarantined areas because female moths typically lay their eggs underneath tree bark for protection.
When shipping Christmas trees, the presence of one or two egg masses in a shipment has been enough to cause the whole load to be rejected at state lines.
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