[Archived] City of Alexandria Advises Property Owners To Be on Alert for Increased Gypsy Moth Activity

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	May 19, 2006 PIO# 125-06/rdo	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

City of Alexandria Advises Property Owners
To Be on Alert for Increased Gypsy Moth Activity

The City of Alexandria’s Arborist Office encourages all City property owners and residents who have mature oak, hickory, beech, and maple trees on their properties to be on the look out for gypsy moth caterpillars (Lymantria dispar) feeding on the leaves. Based on the increased number of egg masses found during the annual gypsy moth egg mass survey conducted last fall, the mild winter the City experienced, and the unpredictability of Alexandria’s spring rains, the City Arborist warns that Alexandria may experience increased levels of gypsy moth larva and damage to shade trees this year. Gypsy moth caterpillars are now approximately one inch long, but will grow to 1 � to 2 inches in length. They are brownish hairy caterpillars in their early stages. As they grow, they become charcoal gray in color and develop a distinctive double row of five blue dots and six brick-red dots down their backs.

Higher levels of infestation are expected to be found in the Beverly Hills and North Ridge areas of the City where the dense canopies of oaks, hickory, beech, maple, and ash are prevalent. An increased number of egg masses were found during last year’s survey along Cameron Mills Road between Allison Street and Chalfonte Drive.

Gypsy Moth Coordinator and City Arborist Jerry Dieruf encourages all residents who have trees that are susceptible to gypsy moth attack to set up monitoring traps for the gypsy moth larva and treat trees that are heavily infested. Burlap strips and instructions on how to set up monitoring stations are available at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St., the Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center, 5700 Sanger Ave., and Fire Station 203, 2801 Cameron Mills Road.

Property owners who wish to have their valuable shade trees sprayed to control the gypsy moth larva are advised to hire experienced tree maintenance companies and pesticide applicators that are equipped, insured, and licensed to provide this service. Early control may be achieved with the
application of the Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) in May. Alternative pesticides may be required in later stages of the insect’s development.

Whether or not pesticides are applied, trees that are healthy and vigorous have a better chance of surviving infestations of gypsy moth caterpillars or other insects and diseases. More important than chemical applications is the judicious application of water under mature shade trees throughout the spring and summer. Alexandria is already experiencing a rain deficit for the first part of the growing season. Unless the City receives adequate rain, the effects of a drought will only exacerbate the damage done by the gypsy moth and other factors. Sufficient rain in June will not only help the trees, but will also help to control the gypsy moth population by promoting diseases that can effectively wipe out the caterpillar population.

For more information on gypsy moths, visit www.fs.fed.us/ne/morgantown/4557/gmoth/ and www.gypsymoth.ento.vt.edu/vagm/, or call Jerry Dieruf, City Arborist, at 703.838.4999, or e-mail jerry.dieruf@alexandriava.gov.

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