As you start your spring clean-up look for gypsy moth egg masses. These tan-colored masses will be on tree trunks, fence posts, lawn furniture and hose siding. The masses can be scraped into a pale of soapy water or sprayed with soybean oil spays. Use gloves to avoid contact with the tiny hairs on the egg masses as they can cause skin rashes. Each egg mass you destroy will prevent hundreds of gypsy moth caterpillars from developing and eating your oak tree.
Pictures are of egg masses and pupae on a building.
When you are removing mulch and leaf litter do not be alarmed if you find lots of crawling critters. They feed on decaying organic matter and can sometimes be found in enormous numbers. May. They are harmless, and aid in the recycling of nutrients. High numbers will cause wilting, yellow leaves and a sticky mess on floors and objects underneath the plant. Through coverage is needed because soap sprays will only kill the insects they contact.