This is my photo of the week. Maybe of the month. It is the rapidly growing caterpillar of the Gypsy Moth. They have invaded our oak woods and they are everywhere. Last week they were tiny, but they’re a lot bigger now and will be twice the size in another few weeks.
These voracious eaters can and will munch their way through the hardwood trees in the woods. I swear I can hear them crunching away at night. They eat night and day until they turn into moths. At which point they stop eating and eventually lay eggs and die.
I tried to knock all the caterpillars off the door so as not to bring a dozen or more gypsy moths crawlies into the house with me. This one refused to be knocked off and clung to the door jamb with all several hundred of his sticky little feet.
The birds apparently don’t like the way they taste. There are so very many of them! At least they are (mostly) leaving my fuchsia in peace.
I thought I’d add this piece from Ontario’s (Canada) INVADING SPECIES website. Gypsy moths are the number one dangerous invasive species in North America. I am not exaggerating.
Gypsy Moth
Lymantria dispar
Gypsy moth is an insect native to Europe and Asia that has been severely weakening trees across North America. Gypsy moth was introduced to North America in the late 1860’s near Boston and has spread over the past century. Despite the successful use of insect predators, as well as fungal and viral controls, gypsy moth populations do occasionally reach outbreak levels and continue to expand their range.
Gypsy moth caterpillars defoliate host trees, mostly hardwood species, such as: oak, birch, poplar, willow, maple and others. During outbreak years, nearly all broadleaf trees may be completely defoliated, caterpillars appear everywhere, and “frass” (caterpillar droppings) appear to rain from the trees. Adult gypsy moths are only seen in mid-summer when temperatures are above freezing. This species is known to infest trees in woodland or suburban areas.
Range
Gypsy moths can be found throughout southern Canada, across the eastern and central United States, and most of the western states. Populations have been found in southern Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. Each population varies annually and fluctuates with local conditions.
Impacts of Gypsy Moth
- Defoliates and kills large amounts of trees, affecting the many benefits provided by trees.
- Economic impacts affect all forest users.
- Caterpillars may chew small holes in leaves or completely strip a canopy, depending on age and population levels.
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Categories: #Photography, Nature, New England
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER 
GYPSY MOTH CATERPILLARS: MAY THEY NEVER RETURN 
GOLDEN LEAVES 
IT WILL BE A COLD NIGHT 
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
Gypsy moth looks interesting. The composition is also lovely. The lines and the way you have place the moth, they are nice.
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I recommend a flamethrower. That’s good for the moths too. (Warning: using a flamethrower may result in loss of house.)
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a hose and soapy water will move them. They are gharstly, I will admit. We live as you do in the middle of the woods, and at their peak about 30+ years ago our driveway, which is 1/2 mile long and wooded, was alive to the sound of gypsy moths chewing and um, evacuating, in a gentle steady patter that went on continuously. My very brisk walk to the mailbox included a wide brimmed hat. yuk.
I hear ya on the invasive species. We now have autumn olive, japanese Barberry (thanks to our good friends at the state plant societies), the bad bittersweet, japanese plantain. the lady bugs that were released some years ago took out the native species, and also killed off the relatively innocuous green aphids, and since nature detests empty spaces, it was filled by little sticky black aphids that can and did decimate a 15 foot high snowball bush in three days.
I wish they would stop trying to fix things, to make things better. Leave it alone.
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My son power washed the whole house last week. You’d never guess it from the way it looks now. All the neighbors are grumbling, too because this end of town is known as “the woods” … for good reason. We are under siege and there’s no escape.
We had a lot of trees taken down over the past decade, so our woods is healthier than it was. Even trees need room to breathe. I hope it will help them survive this invasion. Kudzu in the south, the stuff that’s clogging all the waterways, was also “introduced” as a “pretty” plant for ponds and water gardens. Look how well THAT worked out!
Right now, it’s AWFUL out there, I don’t want to go out at all. Obviously that’s not a practical way to live, but I feel like sealing all the doors and windows and waiting until they go away. And what a MESS they make! YUCK.
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I’ll bet a hammer to the head would get that pesky thing off of the door jamb…
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If there weren’t so MANY of them, I’d enjoy nothing more. However, when we have a peak year like this, it’s way beyond a hammer. More like nuclear device level. Although I would enjoy the moment, it would rid the area of us and everything else and probably make it uninhabitable for … centuries? Millennium?.
I have been told this is a 30 year cyclical event. That gives me a semblance of hope. Meanwhile, I want to seal myself in the house and not emerge until the siege lifts. If ONLY I’d thought to stock up on several months of groceries. Those survivalists have a point!
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I am keeping my eyes open as apparently they originated somewhere in Europe, but have never seen one. My method of keeping away unwanted creatures is to avoid their favrourite plants and food. This seems to have worked with the slugs up to now, but I suppose it would be difficult to remove the forests and only use plastic furniture to stop the invasion. I wish you success in your one-man/lady battle. they make a good photo.
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I don’t know if they were ever part of the Swiss biosphere. I tried to find out, but all they said was “European” without specifically showing the range. In any case, they probably don’t have as much power there. Here, as an invasive species, they have few natural enemies.
It really isn’t a few moths, you know. This is millions of them. Everywhere. You can’t sit outside without having them in your hair, down your neck, in your coffee or tea … or as “relish” on your sandwich. Judy54 assures me that this is the 30-year peak cycle and they will die back to normal levels next year — or at worst, the year after that. In the meantime, there’s nothing much we can do. There’s no spray that would kill them that wouldn’t kill us (and everything else), too.
My house and cars are covered with them. They are crawling up the sides of the house, windows, doors. Oh YUCK. I’m going back to my coffee. I’m not a fan of insects any time, but this is so nasty.
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http://www.biocomes.eu/pest/gypsy-moth/
This link should answer a few questions. They are on the move in Europe, too. Any day now, they will come and join you in your backyard. Something to look forward to?
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yep, Ive been seeing more this year. This happens about every thirty years or so. The last time they were so bad that where shade had been a premium at craft shows by that time NO one wanted a tree to sit under.
They will possibly get worse before they get better but they do disappear. Eventually. I found that thrushes, blackbirds, and sparrows really like these guys. My cat plays with them outside, I think he thinks they’re 5 minute friends, which is about as long as they last with him.
But if they dont peak this year, they will next year and then it will diminish again. Cling to that part. Lord knows, I do. =)
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This is a cautionary tale of why it’s so dangerous to introduce foreign species. That started with a stupid accident at a local laboratory 150 years ago …much like the even stupider accident that killed off most of the North American bats a few years ago. They are (I have read) laying siege to the forests of Wisconsin and as have invaded as far south as Florida. They’ve been busy buggers, haven’t they!
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“The Gypsy Moths” (’69/UA) Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Gene Hackman, Sheree North, Scott Wilson, William Windom. Dir: John Frankenheimer.
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