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Bob Kelleher
St. Paul, Minn.

Spraying begins against the gypsy moth

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Adult female gypsy moth
An adult female gypsy moth. After mating, the female lays eggs in a single mass covered with hairs from the abdomen. Most egg masses are located on tree trunks. The winter is spent in the egg stage.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service

Airplanes begin spraying parts of Lake and Cook county this week for the highly destructive forest pest gypsy moths.

Weather permitting, the spraying will begin today over five tracts in the two northeastern counties.

The area has seen persistent infestations of gypsy moths, a forest pest that has been advancing on Minnesota for years, said Department of Agriculture Spokesman Michael Schommer.

Gypsy moth larva
The gypsy moth larvae do the damage by eating foliage off trees.
Photo courtesy of USDA Forest Service

"We're at a point now where sort of that main wave is poised to enter Minnesota, and I think the Northeast area of the state is really sort of our first battle ground," Schommer said.

Gypsy moths can arrive hidden in products like firewood, but experts think the moths may be blowing to the North Shore from Wisconsin and Michigan, where they're better established.

Moths are treated with a chemical that confuses them to disrupt mating, but is harmless to humans and other animals.

Gallery
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Adult gypsy moths
The adult female is an off-white color, and cannot fly. The adult male is dark brown with markings.
Photo courtesy of Purdue University
1 of 4
Adult female gypsy moth
An adult female gypsy moth. After mating, the female lays eggs in a single mass covered with hairs from the abdomen. Most egg masses are located on tree trunks. The winter is spent in the egg stage.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service
2 of 4
Gypsy Moth
A trapped gypsy moth is displayed at a public meeting in Grand Marais, on the upcoming battle against North Shore gypsy moths.
MPR Photo/Bob Kelleher