Gypsi moth nests

[jbird22cal]

Howdy all,

I have noticed while out geocaching as well as when letting the dog out to do what she needs to do, that there are the ever so familiar little moth nests EVERYWHERE.

I was curious as if there was something we could do as cachers to help combat this problem in Wisconsin.

[nohandsgps]

We could add a spray bottle of soap and water to our backpacks.

[GetMeOutdoors]

Up in the Wausau area, they have hung traps out in many places to help curb the population. At first I thought kid got his kite stuck in a tree then I saw 3 or 4 more of them in other parts of town… kite losing epidemic or gypsy moth traps… must be the latter. They are purple and about the size of a 5 gallon pail. Maybe geocachers could get their hands on a handful of these traps from their respective cities or something and hang them out as they cache.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Kevin, Does a person spray the nests with the soap to help eradicate them? Also, isn’t there another more harmless moth that makes similar nests, or am I just misinformed?

[furfool]

I have read that wrapping tape (I believe duct tape) around the tree trunk will help in preventing the caterpillar from migrating to other trees. Or maybe from the gound into the trees or something like that. I haven’t seen it in quite a while and just can’t be sure.

[nohandsgps]

This might help. I don’t know if there is another moth that could be mistaken for a gypsy moth. If I find something I will let you know.

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/SPFO/pubs/fidls/gypsymoth/gypsy.htm

Destroy egg masses found on outbuildings, on fencing, and in woodpiles. Simply scraping egg masses onto the ground will not destroy them. Burn them or soak them in kerosene or soapy water. Caution is urged because the hairs that coat the egg masses can cause allergic reactions. Egg masses can also be destroyed by planting them with commercially available products, such as liquid detergents.
Place burlap on trees, especially oaks, to provide shade and shelter for older larvae when they seek out protected resting places during the day. The number of larvae and pupae that rest under the burlap provides valuable information about the severity of infestation on your property. When populations are sparse, larvae and pupae beneath burlap can be manually destroyed (fig. 14).

[LightningBugs Mum]

the ever so familiar little moth nests

Can somebody describe them please?

The only things I usually see are those tent caterpillar nests, but those are different beasts. Maybe I’m missing something.

[nohandsgps]

[/quote]Can somebody describe them please?[/quote]

They look like a solid 3D spider web. I see them a lot on small trees.

[Buy_The_Tie]

Gypsy moth nests are NOT the little 3D spider web looking things.

They are tan-brown semi-fuzzy looking masses, typically about the size of a couple of quarters, and maybe 1/4″ thick. I have found them on my house, on outbuildings and on trees on my property.

[nohandsgps]

Is there different types of gypsy moths? This is what I have always seen:
(sorry you will have to click on the link)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rich66/495616847/sizes/m/

The image must be embedded so I can’t link to it.

[LightningBugs Mum]

It appears that there is a lot of confusion with tent caterpillars and gypsy moth caterpillars. I found a link that compares them:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7111.html

After googling images of the two different kinds, I suspect that Flickr image is really tent caterpillars. Ugly dudes, but native and not nearly so damaging.

[nohandsgps]

Now I feel bad. All of those innocent tent caterpillars destroyed over the years. Thanks for educating me.

[LightningBugs Mum]

@nohandsgps wrote:

Now I feel bad. All of those innocent tent caterpillars destroyed over the years. Thanks for educating me.

You don’t need to feel bad. Every time I see those icky tent webs, I want to break out the flame thrower.

Now normally I like caterpillars, and even spiders. But there’s something about those webs that just irks me.

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

At least now I know what all those purple, triangle shaped boxes are doing all over the forrest preserve behind our place are!

[CacheARRRS]

I don’t care what they call ’em those web nest things fill of crawly things always give me the heebie jeebies.

Want me to get a DNF?? put a cache right under a tent caterpillar nest….

[Author]

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