MINNESOTA: GYPSY MOTH
(LYMANTRIA DISPAR) PROGRAM
UPDATES - SURVEY & TREATMENTS
Natasha M. Northrop, Gypsy Moth Survey Coordinator
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Plant Protection Division, Pest Mitigation & Regulatory Response
Unit
European Gypsy Moth Life Cycle(univoltine)
Egg Mass
(5-6 Instars)Pupa
Adult
Larva
6 pair of red spots
5 pair of blue spots
Female
Male
Oak
Aspen
WillowBirch
PREFERRED HOSTS OF THE GYPSY MOTH
LIMITED NATURAL SPREAD RATE
1 ¼ miles per year due
to larval dispersal.
Female moths do not
fly.
“Ballooning of larvae”
Female gypsy moth laying egg mass.
ARTIFICIAL SPREAD OF GYPSY MOTH
Egg masses or other life stages are transported on THINGS = Hitchhikers!
Spread was 13-16 miles per year (1960-1990)
Tourism
Nursery stock
Household moves
Mills
Firewood
MANAGEMENT NATIONALLY
Three strategies of gypsy moth
management
Suppression: Gypsy moth population is
established/reproducing
Treatments conducted to suppress
population/decrease defoliation
Slow the Spread
Treat localized populations to decrease the general
population spread to < 6 km per year
Eradication
Eliminate start up populations
SLOW THE SPREAD (STS)
Federal Program through US Forest Service
Barrier Zone Concept
Goal is to limit spread to >5 miles per year
www.gmsts.org – DA (Decisions Algorithm)
MINNESOTA’S COOPERATIVE
GYPSY MOTH PROGRAM
State Partners
MN Department of Agriculture
MN Department of Natural Resources
University of Minnesota
Federal Partners
USDA APHIS Plant Protection & Quarantine
USDA Forest Service
Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Foundation
MDA GYPSY
MOTH PROGRAM
AREAS
2015 Trapping Survey Plans
• ~16,500 MDA Trap Sites Planned
• 4 Lead Workers
• 27 Trapping Routes
Cooperators:• Three Rivers Park District
o set 20 traps in their parks (on MDA’s grid)
• APHIS – set 98 traps
• NPS St. Croix National Scenic Riverwayo set ~15 traps on St. Croix Islands
(inaccessible to MDA staff)
• County Ag. Inspectors o 14 Counties: Beltrami, Clearwater, Freeborn,
W. Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Otter Tail, Rice, Roseau, Stearns, and Todd Counties
o recruited to set ~25 traps each (were 290 total) west of MDA trapping area
2015 Gypsy Moth Trapping Survey Results
1,052 male moths trapped statewide
16,064 traps set on MDA’s trapping grid
Map: 16,064 + 3 pos. cooperator traps = 16,067 traps
MDA grid + all cooperator traps = 16,467 traps
759 positive traps
757 MDA
1 APHIS trap (Granite Falls, MN - Yellow Medicine Co.)
2 County Ag Inspector traps
1 S. of Littlefork, MN, W. Koochiching Co.
1 in W. Rice County
Houston Co. - MOST MOTHS
227 moths
21.6% of total trap catch
Highest trap catch = 15 moths, Hokah, MN (Houston Co.)
Male Gypsy Moth
Delta Trap Milk Carton Trap
2016 Trapping Survey Plans
• ~19,000 MDA Trap Sites Planned
• 6 Lead Workers
• 32 Trapping Routes
Cooperators:• Three Rivers Park District
o Set ~30 traps in their parks (on MDA’s grid)
• APHIS o Set 105 traps (west of the MDA trapping
area)
• NPS St. Croix National Scenic Riverwayo set ~20 traps on St. Croix Islands
• County Ag. Inspectors o 14 Counties: Beltrami, Clearwater, Crow
Wing, Freeborn, W. Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Roseau, Stearns, Todd, and Waseca Counties
o Each County recruited to set ~25 traps
2016 Preliminary GM Trapping Survey
Results • ~18,920 traps set
• ~1,750 moths = prelim.
statewide trapping total (as of
10/13/16)
• Most catches are in the STS
area
FALL EGG MASS SURVEYS
Conducted at the end
of the trapping season.
Used to determine if
reproducing population
exists.
2015-16 GYPSY MOTH TREATMENTS
Six treatment blocks
identified
2015: 1 treatment - NW of
metro area (west of STS area)
2016: 5 treatments - all within
the STS Action Area
Two products were utilized-
targeting different life stages
of development
Biological Insecticide– larval
stage
Mating Disruption- moth
stage
Environmental Assessments
conducted to select the least
environmentally impacting
product available.
BIOLOGICAL INSECTICIDE TREATMENTS
Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) 3 blocks treated with Btk in 2015 & 2016:
Oak Grove, MN (2015)
o ~513 acres
o rural residential area; Anoka County
Two Harbors, MN (2016)
~570 acres
rural residential firewood compliance site; St. Louis County
Ely, MN (2016)
~565 acres
rural residential area in St. Louis County)
Applied when caterpillars are in the first or second instar of development
Requires specific weather conditions (no/low wind, no precip., fog can prevent flight)
Sensitive to sunlight/heat will only persist of foliage for 3-7 days
Crystalline proteins formed by naturally occurring bacteria
Commonly used in organic gardening
Applied aerially with a low flying fixed-wing aircraft
2 applications were conducted at each site to ensure successful treatment timing.
Treatment success is currently being
evaluated through our survey program.
MATING DISRUPTION
Disrupt II
3 blocks treated in Houston County (2016)
Houston Co. = SE corner of MN
4,895 acres total
Specific to gypsy moth
Dispensed by small plastic “flakes” embedded with
female pheromone (same as the lure placed in traps)
Applied aerially by fixed wing aircraft
Two – three flakes per square foot
Applied before moths begin to fly and look for mates
Interrupts mating, moths die before mating occurs
Flake
WHY WERE MN’S LAKE & COOK COUNTIES
QUARANTINED FOR GYPSY MOTH IN 2014?
2013
Trapping
Survey
Results
GYPSY MOTH QUARANTINE REGULATED
ARTICLES
The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar (L.)) in any stage of development.
Trees without roots (e.g., Christmas trees), trees with roots, and shrubs with
persistent woody stems.
Logs, pulpwood, bark, and bark products.
Mobile homes and associated equipment.
Any other products, articles, or means of conveyance.
GYPSY MOTH QUARANTINE COMPLIANCE
Each load of regulated articles exiting
quarantined areas must be have appropriate
documentation.
Documentation:
Limited Permit- issued for the movement of
untreated regulated articles for specified handling,
utilization, processing, or treatment.
Accurate Statement- issued for the movement of
regulated articles that have been 100% visually
inspected no more than 5 days prior to movement.
Certificate- issued for the movement of regulated
articles that have been treated in a manner to
destroy all life stages of gypsy moth.
COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT SUMMARY
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has 30
active gypsy moth compliance agreements
Compliance Agreement Type Number of Agreements
Firewood 12
Sawlog receiving facility 7
Pulpwood receiving facility 6
Holiday greenery 4
Bark products 1
TOTAL 30
Natasha Northrop
Gypsy Moth Survey Coordinator
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Plant Protection Division
Pest Mitigation & Regulatory Response Unit
625 Robert St. N
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-201-6692 (office)
Website: www.mda.state.mn.us/gypsymoth
Arrest the Pest (report gypsy moth in MN)
Toll Free: (888) 545-6684
