Remember, for each egg mass you scrape off and destroy, you are eliminating hundreds of future caterpillars. Every little bit helps protect your trees. Please do not exaggerate your counts. Doing so will not be helpful in any way. The purpose of this annual survey is to provide the Fairfax County Gypsy Moth Program with additional gypsy moth egg mass data.
Annual surveys are necessary because gypsy moth population levels fluctuate from year to year.
This survey data aids Program staff in determining gypsy moth population levels throughout the County. The information you provide is also very important and useful to staff in decisionmaking about gypsy moth suppression actions designed to manage the gypsy moth in Fairfax County. As you carry out your search, scrape, and destroy activity, please keep a count of all egg masses you are able to see, whether you can reach to destroy them or not. Please do not be concerned about destroying egg masses before Gypsy Moth Program staff complete their own County-wide field survey. Staff are trained to recognize areas of infestation even after you have destroyed all egg masses you are able to reach on your property.