They are easily capable of becoming established in Washington and killing bigleaf maple and other hardwood tree species. Infestations have been detected in street trees in Chicago and New York. Thus far, our detections have been confined to wooden packing material. New rules which regulate the wood pallets and packing materials which accompany goods imported from China are set to be implemented in December, 1998. They should reduce likelihood of this dangerous pest coming into Washington.
Gypsy moths are voracious defoliators of a wide variety of broadleaf trees and shrubs.
They have been a pest in the northeastern U.S. for over 100 years and are usually brought to Washington accidentally on vehicles and household articles being moved from infested parts of North America. Fifty-three gypsy moths were caught in Washington in 1998. Ground-based insecticide treatments may occur near Bellevue and Tacoma in 1999. Parts of Vancouver Island are currently under quarantine because of a gypsy moth outbreak which is expected to be controlled with aerial insecticide treatments in the spring of 1999. The Asian gypsy moth is potentially more capable of spreading and damaging conifer forests.