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Feeding Preferences

While gypsy moth larvae will feed on over 300 tree species of trees and shrubs, their preferred hosts in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states are oaks. Preference for different trees depends upon the size or age of the caterpillars. Small caterpillars (< 1 in.) are not able to feed on as many different species as the older, larger ones (> 1 in.).

Even though gypsy moths prefer oak trees it is not necessary to totally avoid planting oaks. The rule of thumb for homeowners is to plant several different kinds of trees. This will accomplish three things:

1. it will reduce the potential for future gypsy moth problems,
2. it will reduce the potential for pest problems in general (remember the "Dutch elm disease" and all of the beautiful stands of elm that had to be removed?), and
3. the diversity in tree species will add to the beauty of a yard and the value of a home.

Are my trees at risk?

Listed below are some trees and shrubs found in Virginia. Note that this list contains only native and naturalized species and may not list all of the trees in your yard.

Preferred	Tolerated	Avoided
apple alder bigtooth & quaking aspen basswood gray, paper & river birch boxelder hawthorn hazelnut larch American mountain ash all oaks lombardy poplar serviceberry sumac sweetgum willow witch hazel	American beech yellow birch blackgum blueberry yellow buckeye butternut black, choke, pin & sweet cherry chestnut eastern cottonwood cucumber-tree American & slippery elm hackberry eastern hemlock all hickories American hornbeam Norway, red, silver & sugar maple paw paw pear persimmon all pines white poplar redbud sassafras sourwood all spruces sweetfern black walnut	all ashes all azaleas bald cypress catalpa eastern red cedar flowering dogwood elderberry balsam & fraser fir American holly horse chestnut Kentucky coffeetree juniper sheep & mountain laurel black & honey locust mountain & striped maple mulberry rhododendron all brambles (Rubus sp.) spicebush sycamore tuliptree all viburnums