NEWARK, Del. Delaware
residents are on the lookout for
gypsy moths in their yards.
Control of this harmful pest will be
easier if gypsy moths are not
confused with two other well
known insects the eastern tent
caterpillar and the forest tent
caterpillar.
The appearance and habits of the
three leaf-eaters are quite dif
ferent, says Mark Graustein,
extension entomologist at the
University of Delaware. He
suggests homeowners first leam
how to identify the egg masses.
The gypsy moth egg mass is buff
colored and velvety, resembling a
small piece of chamois. Look for it
on trees, lawn furniture, fence
posts and other objects. Also check
recreational vehicles, since this
pest often spreads by hitchhiking.
The eastern tent caterpillar’s
egg mass looks like a dark brown
varnished belt or collar encircling
a twig or branch. That of the forest
tent caterpillar is similar.
All three types of egg masses can
be destroyed with an aerosol spray
designed for the purpose,
Graustein says. He prefers this
approach to painting the egg
masses with a 50-50 mixture of
creosote and kerosene. The
creosote mixture is toxic to
humans, he points out, and should
be handled with extreme care only
while wearing nonporous gloves.
The commercial spray is safer and
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Don’t confuse Gypsy Moth
just as effective. Neither ap
proach, however, can control a
serious infestation.
Tent caterpillar eggs hatch
several weeks earlier than those of
the gypsy moth. Larvae of the
eastern tent caterpillar begin to
appear in Delaware around the
first week of April when tree buds
start to show green. Those of the
forest tent caterpillar appear
about a week later. Gypsy moth
larvae emerge toward the end of
April.
Larval stages of the three insects
are easy-to distinguish if you know
what to look for, says Graustein.
Eastern tent caterpillars spin silky
threads forming grey, weblike
nests in the crotches of tree limbs
and branches. Larvae live in these
nests, coming out several times a
day to feed. They prefer the foliage
of wild cherry and apple trees.
Contrary to its name, the forest
tent caterpillar does not make a
tent. It prefers to feed on aspen,
gum and oak foliage.
Mature tent caterpillars are
nearly 2 inches long, with sparse
hair, and white and blue stripes
along the sides of the black body.
The eastern tent caterpillar has a
white stripe down the middle of its
back, while the forest tent
caterpillar has keyhole-shaped
white spots down its back.
The gypsy moth larva is much
hairier. It, too, grows to about 2
inches long, but the most distinc-
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299-3794
■ \ r r_
d
tive markings on this dark grqy
worm are the warts located on top
of each body segment except the
first. Counting back from the head,
the first five pairs of these warts
are blue. The last six pairs are red.
When first hatched, gypsy moth
caterpillars hang from their
hatching site by a thin thread, and
are carried elsewhere to feed by
the wind. In a good breeze they
may travel a half-mile or more.
Favorite food of the gypsy moth is
the foliage of oak and birch trees.
The mature gypsy moth
caterpillar pupates under loose
bark, groundcovers, houses, fence
posts and other objects. The pupa
is dark brown and shaped like an
olive seed. Adult moths emerge
after about three weeks, with peak
emergence usually occurring in
mid-July. Female moths have a
wing span of about 2 inches, but
are heavy-bodied and can’t fly.
with other pests
Graustein says. However, the
smaller males are strong daytime
fliers.
Both eastern and forest tent
caterpillars pupate inside sulfur
yellow or creamy white cocoons.
Since their moths are strictly night
fliers, they are seldom seen.
The best time to control all these
pests is in the early larval stage.
NEWARK, Del. Some people
rush for the sprayer whenever they
spot an insect in the garden. The
problem is, not all garden insects
are harmful. Some, in fact, benefit
the gardener by eating other in
sects that damage plants.
Instead of spraying in
discriminately, leam which in
sects are beneficial and take ad
vantage of the natural pest control
they provide. The University of
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Information on recommended
controls for the gypsy moth,
eastern tent caterpillar and forest
tent caterpillar is available by
writing: Mail Room, Townsend
Hall, University of Delaware,
Newark, DE19717-1303. Or contact
the county extension office in
Newark (451-2506), Dover (736-
1448), or Georgetown (856-5250).
Delaware Cooperative Extension
Service offers a free illustrated
fact sheet, “Biological Control
Agents Found in Home Gardens,”
which will help gardeners
recognize beneficial insects. The
fact sheet also discusses biological
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To obtain a copy, contact the
county extension office in Newark
(451-2506); Dover (736-1448); or
Georgetown (856-5250).
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