Signature: 

Children’s Playthings

 Bicycles, tricycles

 Playhouses

 Sandboxes

 Sleds, toboggans

 Swingsets

 Tire swings

 Wagons

 Other outside toys like 

 trucks or sand molds

 

Other Items

 Cars or trucks

 Car parts

 Car ramps

 Farm implements

 Plants

 Stored tires

 (snow tires)

Yard and Garden Items

 Animal houses 

 (doghouses, rabbit 

 hutches, etc.)

 Barbecue grills

 Birdbaths

 Bird feeders

 Bird houses

 Bug lights

 Carts

 Coldframes

 Driftwood

 Fencing

 Fertilizer spreaders

 Flagpoles

 Garden tillers

 Garden tools

 Lawnmowers

 Mailboxes

 Picnic tables

 Porch or patio 

 furniture

 Signs and posts

 Snowblowers

 Storage sheds

 Swimming pools

 Tractors and

 trailers

 Trees and shrubs

 Trellises

 Wheelbarrows

 Yard decorations

 

 

Please inspect anything that was stored outside!

Don’t Move

Gypsy Moth

16

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No.1329

[If the inspection was done by a commercial inspection company, 

provide the name of the firm and its phone number.]
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s 

National Park Service (NPS) supports a 

nationwide integrated pest management 

approach toward managing the gypsy 

moth and other exotic pests. Education 

and awareness are key in spreading the 

word about gypsy moth. We gratefully 

acknowledge NPS’ cooperation in distributing this leaflet to park visitors. Inspecting recreational vehicles and camping 

equipment for gypsy moth eggs before 

leaving home can significantly reduce the 

likelihood of spreading this pest to currently uninfested areas. We appreciate 

NPS’ help in distributing this brochure to 

visitors traveling through National Park 

sites.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis 

of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where 

applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental 

status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, 

political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an 

individual’s income is derived from any public assistance 

program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 

communication of program information (Braille, large print, 

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center 

at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint 

of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil 

Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, 

D.C. 20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 

720–6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider 

and employer.

Cover photo: Inspect your outdoor household articles like 

decorative containers for gypsy moth egg masses. Use a 

stiff brush for removing them. To destroy the egg masses, 

place them in a container of hot, soapy water.

Photo credits: The cover photo and images in figures 4, 8 

(top), 10, and 11 were taken by APHIS photographer Ann 

Czapiewski. Images in figures 2, 3, and 7 were taken by 

Linda J. Card, Maryland Department of Agriculture, and are 

reproduced by permission. Photographs in figures 6 and 

8 (bottom) were taken by USDA photographer Perry Rech. 

Images in figures 5 and 9 come from the APHIS photo 

collection.

Issued in this format December 1994

Slightly revised October 2007

Don’t Move a Serious Pest to a 

New Neighborhood

Planning to move from a State infested with gypsy moth to 

one that is not infested? Moving your camper or recreational vehicle across State lines? You need to know 

about a regulation intended to prevent the interstate 

spread of this pest.

Studies show that most new, isolated infestations of 

the gypsy moth were started from egg masses transported 

on outdoor household articles—garbage cans, lawn furniture, children’s toys—any item accessible to the female 

moth at egg-laying time. As a result, the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture (USDA) enforces gypsy moth quarantine 

regulations requiring that such articles be inspected for all 

gypsy moth life stages prior to movement outside of the 

generally infested area. As shown in figure 1, this includes 

most of the northeastern part of the United States.

Figure 1—The gypsy moth is widely distributed in the 

Northeast. This map illustrates the parts of the United 

States regulated for gypsy moth as of August 2007.

The area infested with gypsy moth changes each year. You can 

find a map of the current regulated area at 

<http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/gypsy_

moth/downloads/gypmoth.pdf>.

2 3
In 1999, following a successful pilot project, USDA’s 

Forest Service in cooperation with the Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) launched the Slow the 

Spread (STS) campaign, a program created to reduce 

the rate of gypsy moth movement into noninfested areas. 

STS uses education, detection, and control strategies to 

slow the spread of this pest across the 1,200-mile gypsy 

moth frontier from Wisconsin to North Carolina. The 

program area is located ahead of the advancing front of 

the gypsy moth population. The program focuses on early 

detection and suppression of the low-level populations 

detected along this advancing front, disrupting the normal 

cycle of population buildup and spread.

If you live where the gypsy moth is prevalent, you 

know the damage the larval stage of this insect can cause. 

Those leaf-eating caterpillars devour the leaves of many 

hardwood trees and shrubs, giving summer scenes a 

barren, wintry look. Gypsy moth larvae have been known 

to defoliate up to 13 million acres of trees in 1 season, 

damaging local ecosystems and killing trees outright. The 

larvae also crawl on homes, litter lawn furniture and pools, 

and make outdoor activities hard to enjoy.

People glad to be leaving the annoyance of living 

with the gypsy moth took egg masses along unintentionally—to hatch and spread far from their old neighborhood. 

Millions of Federal and State tax dollars are spent every 

year to limit the movement of these pests and to eradicate 

the isolated infestations that have been established in 

previously uninfested areas. We need everyone’s help in 

detecting gypsy moth populations and keeping this insect 

from spreading to new neighborhoods.

Failure to inspect household articles for gypsy moth 

life stages prior to movement from a regulated area is a 

violation of USDA quarantine regulations and may result in 

significant civil penalties. Inspecting your personal property for gypsy moths goes beyond being a good neighbor: 

it is required by law. Don’t be responsible for moving an 

old pest to a new neighborhood.

Figure 2—At first glance, this appears to be a beautiful 

forest, but nearly half the trees in the background have 

been defoliated by the gypsy moth. Defoliation alters 

habitat, adversely affecting canopy and understory 

ecosystems.

Figure 3—A severe infestation can leave trees barren in 

the middle of the summer. Then, in an attempt to releaf, 

trees use up stored energy and become stressed.

4 5
Inspecting for Gypsy Moth

You are responsible for making sure that your outdoor 

household articles don’t move the gypsy moth. How you 

do this is your decision. The quarantine regulations allow 

for self-inspection of household goods, and this pamphlet was developed to assist you should you choose to 

self-inspect. Alternatively, you may pay a USDA-trained 

certified pesticide applicator to inspect the articles you 

plan to move.

APHIS officials work cooperatively with the States in 

monitoring anyone who moves outdoor household articles 

out of the regulated area. These officials check to see if 

people who are moving have a document certifying that 

their outdoor household articles have been properly inspected and found to be free of gypsy moth. Without such 

a certificate, movement of the outdoor household articles 

constitutes a violation of the quarantine. Appropriate action, including the assessment of civil penalties, may be 

taken against the owner of the infested household goods. 

Self-Inspection

If you decide to do the inspection yourself, include 

anything accessible to a gypsy moth. Inspect any article 

left outdoors, stored in areas open to the outside, or stored 

indoors but used outdoors.

The checklist at the end of this brochure lists many 

common outdoor household articles that could carry gypsy 

moth life stages. Carefully examine each article, remove 

any life stages found, destroy them, and check the item 

off the list. Be sure to enter the date and place inspected 

and sign at the bottom. This will be your official certificate 

of self-inspection. Include this list with the paperwork 

accompanying your move, and give it to the driver of the 

moving van. If you are moving yourself, be sure to keep 

the paperwork with you in case it is requested at any point 

during your trip.

Professional Inspection

Participating State-licensed pesticide applicators are 

trained to inspect your household items and treat heavily 

infested articles or inaccessible spaces with registered 

pesticides if necessary. These persons are also authorized to issue you a certificate stating that your outdoor 

household items are free of gypsy moth. 

A certificate must always accompany outdoor 

household items in transit. This certificate will satisfy the 

requirements of all uninfested States and will relieve you 

of liability should your items be reinspected by a State official in the destination State and be found to harbor gypsy 

moth. From late spring to the end of summer (generally 

mid-May through August), a certificate may be issued up 

to 5 days before departure, when gypsy moth larvae are 

active and adult females are laying eggs. In the fall, winter, 

and early spring months (generally September through 

mid-May), a certificate may be issued as much as 2 weeks 

before departure.

You may find pesticide applicators who are participating in the program through local advertising. 

Figure 4—If you inspect for gypsy moths on your own, make sure 

to thoroughly check all outdoor household articles for egg masses 

and remove and destroy them.

6 7
Recognizing Gypsy Moth Life Stages

If you choose to inspect your outdoor household articles, 

you need to be able to identify gypsy moth life stages. 

Most important is the egg mass. This publication contains 

photographs to help you.

Figure 5—The gypsy moth egg mass is covered with buff 

or yellowish “hairs,” giving it a velvety appearance.

The gypsy moth goes through four stages of development—egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (cocoon), and adult 

(moth). It has one generation a year. During the summer 

months, female moths attach egg masses to trees, stones, 

walls, logs, and other outdoor objects, including outdoor 

household articles. Each egg mass contains up to 1,000 

eggs and is covered with buff or yellowish “hairs” from the 

abdomen of the female. The velvety egg masses vary in 

size but on average are usually about an inch and a half 

long and three-quarters of an inch wide (a little bigger than 

a quarter).

In southernmost infested States, eggs begin hatching in late March. Hatching starts around early May in the 

northernmost infested States. The grayish, hairy caterpillars are tiny at first but easy to identify when about halfgrown because they have pairs of red and blue dots on 

their back. Mature caterpillars are from 1.5 to 2.5 inches 

long. These caterpillars are voracious feeders and, in outbreak situations, can devour all the leaves from the trees 

and plants in entire neighborhoods and forests.

8 9

Figure 6—Identifying gypsy moth larvae is easy because 

they have several pairs of blue and red dots on their back.

Figure 7—Gypsy moth caterpillars survive in high 

numbers in North America because here, unlike Europe, 

they don’t have many natural enemies.
Caterpillars stop feeding when they enter the pupal 

or “cocoon” stage, ranging from May in southernmost infested States to early July in northernmost infested States, 

varying with weather and climate. Adult moths emerge 

from the dark-brown pupal cases 10 to 14 days later. 

Males have light tan to brown wings marked with dark, 

wavy bands, and a 1.5-inch wingspread. Female moths 

are larger than males and generally white, with a wingspread of about 2.5 inches. Despite having larger wings, 

the female moths cannot fly.

Population Growth and Decline

A number of factors, such as available food sources, 

predators, parasites, and disease, affect the size of the 

gypsy moth population each year. Depending on the 

pest’s population cycle, homeowners may experience 

severe gypsy moth infestations for a year or two and then 

go several years without noticing any obvious signs of 

infestation. Just because the gypsy moth appears to have 

disappeared, however, does not mean it’s gone. It may 

be present in small numbers 1 year, but before long, the 

population cycle will resurge. In the absence of monitoring 

and appropriate suppression, the gypsy moth will again 

destroy trees and shrubs in infested areas. 

 

10 11

Figure 8—Adult 

gypsy moths 

emerge in the 

summer from darkbrown pupal cases 

that can remain 

on trees and other 

surfaces after the 

moths are gone.

Figure 9—The adult female gypsy moth is about twice 

the size of the male and white in color.

Neither sex feeds in the moth stage; adults mate and 

lay eggs only. The eggs are the dormant stage of the life 

cycle, allowing the pest to survive winter weather. In the 

spring the eggs hatch, starting the life cycle over again.
What To Do If You Find Gypsy Moth Life 

Stages

An effective way to dispose of gypsy moth life stages is 

to remove them by hand. Scrape egg masses from their 

locations with a putty knife, stiff brush, or similar handtool. 

Dispose of egg masses and other life stages in a container 

of hot, soapy water, or place them in a plastic bag, seal it, 

and set it in the sun. You may elect to abandon articles if 

they are heavily infested and of little value to you.

Figure 10—Yard tools left outside during the spring and 

summer months are a favorite spot for female gypsy 

moths to deposit egg masses.

Some people are allergic to gypsy moth hairs, which 

are attached to all life stages. Allergic reactions include 

skin rashes and respiratory disturbances. If necessary, 

wear gloves, protective clothing, and a dust mask.

Depending on the time of year, you may have to protect your articles from reinfestation by caterpillars or moths 

after inspection. The best way to do this is to store the 

articles inside. Do not conduct the inspection more than 5 

days prior to your departure.

Remember, you are the key to preventing the interstate movement of gypsy moths on outdoor household 

articles, including recreational vehicles. Do your part to 

prevent the spread of this pest.

Figure 11—Make sure to turn over farm implements 

and other equipment that can conceal egg masses from 

view and provide protection against predators and harsh 

winter weather.

12 13
Additional Information

If you need additional information about the Federal regulations on moving outdoor household articles, contact one 

of the following:

•Your State’s regulatory officials, usually listed under 

department of agriculture, plant protection or 

regulatory division, in the State government section of 

your telephone directory.

•A Federal regulatory official, listed in the Federal 

Government section of your telephone directory under 

USDA, APHIS, Plant Protection and Quarantine.

•Your county’s agriculture extension agent, listed in the 

Federal Government section of your telephone 

directory under USDA, Cooperative State Research, 

Education, & Extension Service.

•A local commercial moving company. Movers have 

been cooperating with USDA to be sure that the 

Federal regulations about gypsy moth are followed.

For more information about gypsy moth and APHIS 

cooperators in the fight to control this pest, log onto the 

following Web sites:

APHIS’ Gypsy Moth program

• http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/

gypsy_moth/index.shtml.

Species profile of the gypsy moth

• http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/

eurogypsymoth.shtml

Biology and distribution of the gypsy moth

• http://www.ceris.purdue.edu/napis/pests/egm/index.html

List of quarantined counties

• http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/

gypsy_moth/downloads/quarantine.pdf

Recreational or Camping Items

 Backpacks

 Basketball backboards

 Bicycles

 Boats

 Boat trailers

 Campers

 Ice chests

 Motorcycles

 Motor homes

Household Items

 Air conditioners

 Barrels

 Cardboard and 

 wooden boxes

 Clothesline poles

 Clothespin bags

 Empty plant 

 containers

 Firewood

 House plants taken

 outside during the

 summer

 Ladders

 Outdoor doormats

 Outdoor thermometers

 Refrigerators

 Sheets of plastic

 Shutters

 Storage sheds

Storm/screen doors and 

 windows

 Tanks for propane

 and oil

 Television antennas

 Trash cans

 Washing machines

 Water hoses

 Weather vanes

 Window awnings

Building Materials

 Bricks

 Cinder blocks

 Cement mixing tubs

 Lumber

Roofing materials

 Sewer pipes

 Tools and toolboxes

 Water pipes

 Welding equipment

 Workbenches 

 

Self-Inspection Checklist

Important: Make sure this checklist goes with 

your household goods when you move!

Checklist and Record of Your Self-Inspection

Date: 

Property address: _______________________________

 Recreational vehicles

 Snowmobiles

 Sports equipment

 Tarps

 Tents

 Waders or boots

14 15