By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

The female Asian gypsy moth can reproduce quickly and is a destructive pest. — Courtesy photo

March 2, 2006 - During a routine pest detection survey program, the Texas  Department of Agriculture (TDA) trapped a single male Asian gypsy moth (AGM) in Travis County early last month. It was found near U.S. Highway 290, approximately three miles west of the intersection of U.S. 290 and State Highway 71.

Asian gypsy moths are small, said USDA spokesperson Allen Spelce, but the caterpillars they breed have been known to cause big problems. 

The TDA has declared an emergency because of the destructive nature of this insect. It eats leaves on all kinds of oak trees and reproduces rapidly. The larval stages of the Asian gypsy moth are known to feed upon over 500 species of trees and shrubs, including evergreens and hardwoods, such as live oaks and post oaks, and are capable of causing considerable damage, Spelce said.

On Feb. 18, the USDA conducted a meeting at the Austin Community College campus and a spokesman for the TDA reported that 1,300 traps will be placed within a 78-square mile area of the original site where the AGM was trapped, this summer, to monitor for the destructive pest.

The AGM is not native to North America, but has been brought in by packing crates from other parts of the world. It has created problems for forests and wooded areas in other parts of the United States and in other countries.

“The female AGM lays eggs during August and September in Far East

Russian and Japanese ports,” explained Shashank Nilakhe, state entomologist. “They are attracted by the lights on ships and the females may lay eggs on the superstructure. The larvae can be blown by the wind on silk strands.”

 The survey program, which trapped the AGM, is conducted in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture using traps baited with the moth pheromone. This is the first time ever an Asian gypsy moth has been detected in Texas. 

USDA and TDA are exploring the possibility of aerially treating a 1-square mile area around the positive moth find either with a naturally occurring organic compound containing Bacillus thuringiensis kurtsaki (commonly known as Bt) or by using a gypsy moth pheromone which causes mating disruption, said Nilakhe. 

“The pesticide will disrupt the caterpillars' digestive system, but nothing else,” Nilakhe said. “ It's target specific. It won't have any impact on pets, animals, or humans.”

As of now, no one living in the area is disputing the pesticide spraying. 

“It will be 45-minute treatments that will occur three Sundays in March and it will 

close a portion of Highway 290 near Oak Hill,” explained Spelce. “It’s a small price to pay to ensure people’s land and property are clear of danger.”

Out of 1,000 traps placed in Travis County, only AGM was trapped. The only other place in the nation in which the AGM was trapped is in California. Within the past four years, this treatment has been performed in Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and the exotic pest has not been able to establish.

“AGM egg masses may be found on trees, stones, walls, logs, lawn furniture, and other outdoor objects. Each egg mass can contain more than 1,000 eggs, Nilakhe said. “The mass is covered with buff or yellowish fuzz from the abdomen of the female.”

AGM eggs begin hatching into caterpillars in the spring. 

“All of the damage caused by the AGM is done during the caterpillar stage, as the insects feed on leaves during this active period of growth,” Nilakhe stated.”

 AGM caterpillars stop feeding when they enter the pupal or cocoon stage. This stage begins in June or July, depending on weather and temperature. Adult moths emerge from the dark brown pupal cases in 10 to 14 days. Adult males have grayish-brown wings and a wingspan of 1–1/2 inches. Adult female moths are white and larger, with wingspans up to 3–1/2 inches or more.

AGM infestations spread in several ways. Adult female moths may fly to previously uninfested areas to lay eggs, spreading the infestation. Or, newly hatched AGM caterpillars may climb to tree crowns, where the wind picks up their silken thread and carries them to other areas.

In addition, people can inadvertently transport egg masses. AGM egg masses are tolerant of extremes in temperature and moisture and travel well on logs, lawn furniture, nursery stock, pallets, shipping containers, and on the hulls and riggings of ships.