Gypsy moths also present aesthetic, safety, and health concerns to employees and the public. Large stands of defoliated or dead trees can impact scenic values and present hazardous tree conditions. Forest fire hazard levels can be increased with defoliation and tree mortality. Some individuals that are exposed to the hairs on gypsy moth larvae may develop skin rashes or irritations and allergies. These traps contain a pheromone strip that attracts flying male moths and a small insecticide strip.
Traps are useful tools for monitoring low level moth populations and detecting new populations.
The number of moths caught in traps was generally low until the mid-90s when numbers started increasing. The use of traps was discontinued after the summer of 1998, as the number of moths trapped became uniformly high and traps became less useful for monitoring. In 1990, the park sponsored a workshop to discuss the expected gypsy moth problem. Participants included NPS staff from parks already impacted by the moths, other agency representatives, and community representatives. At that time, park managers determined that the park would not pursue active gypsy moth management.