What is Integrated Pest Management?
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.

The IPM approach uses knowledge of pest, crop, and environmental conditions to select the best combination of management strategies. IPM recognizes the extraordinary adaptability of insects and does not attempt to eradicate a particular pest entirely, but rather is aimed at keeping pest populations below the threshold level at which they can cause significant economic loss.

The City of Mississauga is recognized as a leader in Plant Health Care (PHC) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. The City believes that the best way to manage pests is through IPM controls, which places the emphasis on prevention and looks at all available information and considers all options before deciding how to manage a pest problem. IPM controls typically rely on effective, alternative approaches to pesticides and chemicals.

Why haven't IPM controls worked to contain Mississauga's Gypsy Moth infestation?
Proactive maintenance practices are usually the best defence against pests such as the Gypsy Moth. However, in the case of Mississauga's current Gypsy Moth infestation the IPM controls that have been used to date have been ineffective in containing the population levels. This is because environmental conditions have altered the Gypsy Moth's typical pattern and they are now laying eggs high in the tree's canopy, making it difficult to implement the usual, effective IPM controls.

In areas where the infestation has gone beyond the normal stage of pest management and where significant numbers of egg masses have been laid high in the tree, the aerial application of Btk by helicopter is considered the only effective control measure. Although the aerial spraying of Btk should help contain the population levels of caterpillars that have hatched high in the tree's canopy, other IPM measures should be used as well.

The intent of the aerial spray application is to reduce the Gypsy Moth population level, not eradicate them.

Doing your part to contain the outbreak?
The following IPM methods and general control measures will not be effective against the current Gypsy Moth infestation within Mississauga 'hot spot' areas, they will however, prove effective in areas where population levels are lower.

Here are some IPM controls that have proven to be effective in dealing with the Gypsy Moth population:

• picking caterpillars off foliage and soaking them in soapy water
• placing sticky bands on tree trunks
• installing burlap wraps around tree trunks and then collecting and destroying the caterpillars
• using pheromone traps to capture and confuse male moths
• scraping off and destroying egg masses
• leaving wooded habitat around trees, shrubs and garden plants to encourage predators
  

The City of Mississauga will continue to implement a variety of these measures on City-owned property and encourages all property owners in affected areas to do the same.

Destroying Egg Masses
One of the most effective and environmentally, socially and economically sound methods of reducing Gypsy Moth populations is through the manual removal and destruction of egg masses. Eliminating as many egg masses as possible will reduce the number of caterpillars and the amount of defoliation. The buff coloured, chamois-textured, oval-shaped egg masses are between the size of a dime and a quarter and can be found anytime between mid-August to the end of April.

As the masses are easiest to see when the leaves are off the trees, a fall search followed by a spring inspection is recommended. Search the area by walking slowly in a grid pattern and stopping to inspect any surface that might contain an egg mass. Gypsy Moths lay their egg masses in just about any sheltered location including under tree and shrub branches, the underside of patio furniture or on rocks, firewood, fences and tree trunks. The egg masses may be located at either high or low levels and include structures such as windowsills, light fixtures and mail boxes.

To destroy the egg masses, carefully scrape the whole egg mass into a container of soapy water (1 tsp. of detergent per litre of water) and allow them to soak before discarding. Scraping the eggs onto the ground and leaving them will not prevent the eggs from hatching.

Burlap Banding
Burlap bands or skirts placed around the trunk of a tree provide a convenient sheltered resting spot for Gypsy Moth caterpillars during the day. As the burlap bands do not trap or injure the caterpillars, you must check under the bands or skirts regularly, daily is ideal, and physically remove the caterpillars and destroy them by either crushing them or dropping them into a container of soapy water (1 tsp. of detergent per litre of water) and allowing them to soak before discarding.

To form a burlap skirt, cut a piece of burlap long enough to wrap around the tree and anywhere from 30 to 60 cm wide. Using a piece of rope, tie the burlap around the tree at shoulder height. Fold the upper half of the burlap over the lower half and let it hang. Be sure there is some looseness in the burlap to allow the caterpillars to crawl underneath and to permit you to easily remove the insects. Burlap banding your trees in early to mid-June is recommended. Experience has shown that leaving the burlap bands on until September is beneficial and you may find numerous egg masses under the burlap that can easily be removed and destroyed.

Sticky Band Barriers
Sticky barrier bands, consisting of commercially available double-sided sticky tapes, or sticky material such as Tanglefoot, petroleum jelly, or grease, prevent Gypsy Moth larva from crawling up the trunks of susceptible host trees. These products should be applied to the surface of an impermeable material, such as duct tape or tar paper, and not applied directly to the bark. Petroleum-based products can cause injury (swelling and cankering) on thin-barked trees. The sticky bands do not need to be wider than a few centimetres and should be monitored weekly to ensure they are continuing to form an effective barrier.

Pheromones (sex hormones)
Hanging pheromone scents or traps from trees can be used to attract male moths and act as decoys preventing male moths from mating with female moths. Application rates are between 2-4 traps per acre depending on the lay of the land. More traps may be required on land which has dense vegetation and plant growth, while in large open areas, less traps will prove effective.

Use of Insecticides (not an IPM control measure)
During severe infestations when the life of the tree may be in jeopardy, the use of pesticide applications may be considered as a viable option.

Pesticide applications do not produce an instant defence against unwanted insects. They will not completely eradicate the problem and should be used to reinforce other management strategies and control methods.

As the Gypsy Moth is so widespread at this point throughout much of Ontario, we must learn and adapt to live with the insect and strive to control severe outbreaks and infestations. Spraying is not an effective preventative measure; it is generally only effective for a short time and will not stop Gypsy Moth caterpillars from entering onto your property.

The biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki (Btk) is a natural occurring bacterial insecticide that only works against insects called "lepidopterans," which include destructive tree pests such as Gypsy Moths, Spruce Budworms and Forest Tent Caterpillars. Btk must be ingested by the caterpillars in the early stages of development as soon as feeding begins and defoliation becomes evident. A good indicator of the correct time to apply Btk is when Bridal Wreath Spirea is in bloom. When Btk is eaten by the caterpillars, the insect becomes paralyzed, stops feeding, and dies of starvation or disease. As this biologically insecticide affects a specific narrow spectrum of insects, other organisms such as birds, spiders and bees are left unharmed.

Other contact chemical pesticides may affect non-target organisms and may be potentially hazardous to human health. The timing of the chemical pesticide applications is less critical for successful population reductions in relation to the application of the microbial and biological insecticides.

Larger trees may require the hiring of professional pesticide application tree care firms with specialized spraying equipment, qualifications and licences. When using any pesticide, be sure to use caution and read, understand and follow all label instructions