Woodlot Management
The tools for gypsy moth management in a woodlot or forested setting are not quite the same as those available to homeowners with small lots. Labor-intensive strategies such as banding, mechanical removal of egg masses and larvae, and treatment of egg masses with oil sprays are not viable on large tracts or areas with many trees. However, as the size and scope of a landowner’s property increases, aerial treatment with insecticides may become a feasible option. Also, owners of small holdings often place a high premium on their trees as they often are part of the yard landscape whereas landowners may be more interested in timber value rather than aesthetics, and the economics of control options will be different for the two groups.
The above graph shows general damage types as a function of egg mass density, with nuisance effects occurring as low as 250 egg masses per acre, aesthetic and recreation effects at 500 eggs masses per acre, and tree damage and mortality at 1000+ egg masses per acre.
One option owners of large holdings can take advantage of is the use of silvicultural techniques in advance of gypsy moth infestations. The severity and extent of gypsy moth damage is dependent upon such stand conditions as tree species composition, tree health, and crown condition. Silvicultural controls generally focus on manipulating these tree and stand conditions to maximize tree health. To be effective, these efforts must be implemented a few years prior to gypsy moth defoliation. Three good resources for managers who wish to learn more about silviculture are:
- Silvicultural Guidelines for Forest Stands Threatened by the Gypsy Moth. Kurt Gottschalk, USDA Forest Service, Morgantown, WV
- Gypsy Moth Silvicultural Guidelines for Wisconsin. Charles Brooks and David Hall, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- Forest Management Strategies to Minimize the Impact of Gypsy Moth. Bruce Kauffman, USDA Forest Service, Nashville, TN and Wayne Clatterbuck, Univ. of Tennessee
Also contact your County Forester.