November 2000 Utah Gypsy Moth Eradication Background Gypsy moth populations can spread long distances by people when they move from infested to uninfested areas. In 1988 a large gypsy moth infestation was detected in Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, and Wasatch counties.
Gypsy moth poses a significant threat to gambel oak and aspen.
These trees are important for wildlife and for preventing erosion on steep slopes. The Forest Service took the lead in dealing with gypsy moth in Utah, which included the involvement of eleven State, Federal, and local agencies. Using an integrated pest management approach, this infestation was successfully eradicated by 1993. In 1996 a new gypsy moth infestation was detected in Emigration Canyon, just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. Establishment of an intensive pheromone trapping grid to precisely locate and quantify gypsy moth populations.