Gypsy Moth is an insect native to Europe that has been introduced to North America. Gypsy Moth caterpillars eat leaves from trees during the spring and early summer. This causes trees to lose their leaves.
Healthy trees can grow their leaves back in the same season, but an ongoing gypsy moth infestation weakens trees and can make them more likely to be damaged from other insects.
Gypsy Moths like to eat the leaves on trees while they are in their caterpillar stage. They strip the leaves until early summer, when they enter their moth stage.
They prefer Oak trees but will eat the leaves of any hardwood tree such as oak, ash, birch or elm. Look for trees with many caterpillars and not a lot of leaf coverage.
The City monitors and controls Gypsy Moth populations. Each year, priority areas are identified where there are high numbers of Gypsy Moths. City-owned trees in these areas will receive treatments that may include:
You can use some of these pest control techniques to help protect trees on your property:
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For more information about Gypsy Moths, email tree.pests@mississauga.ca or call 311 (905-615-4311 from outside Mississauga).