Pennsylvania Game News - May 2012 - 15

vent people from inadvertently spreading the insect to other locations. From where I stood near the sugar maples, I could see my truck. Walking the last quarter mile uphill, I paused to brush several gypsy moth egg masses off the bark of a small oak tree, and felt good knowing several thousand eggs would not hatch. Of all forest pests, the gypsy moth is perhaps the one most familiar to Pennsylvanians. Gypsy moth populations are cyclical, this past year there seemed to be no serious infestations, at least in my area of the state. The gypsy moth has only one generation per year, and populations will go through cycles in which they will increase for several years then decline, and then increase again. Area-wide outbreaks can occur for up to 10 years, but generally population densities have been low for the past several years. Gypsy moths can consume tremendous amounts of leaf material, as much as one square foot of leaves per day. When populations reach outbreak proportions the caterpillars can completely defoliate host trees over a wide geographic area, and consistent or repeated defoliation over several years can have devastating effects. Fortunately the gypsy moth is affected by extreme cold and to attacks by various parasitic wasps, as well as certain fungi, bacteria and viruses. Wet spring weather can also keep gypsy moth populations low, because the fungi affecting the pest do well when forest conditions are moist. In addition, when gypsy moth populations are high and the caterpillars are stressed, they are susceptible to a viral organism that only occurs under severe outbreak conditions. Unfortunately, it appears the gypsy moth is here to stay. However, because of the current lack of biological and chemical controls, the emerald ash borer, woolly

adelgid and the Asian longhorned beetle are far greater threats to our forests. Driving home from my day in the woods, I realized our forests are threatened by various biological enemies and that many tree species could be in serious trouble. It bothers me to think that one day many of the trees we take for granted may be gone. The economic impacts of loosing our ash, maple, hemlock and oak trees is tremendous and will devastate the forest product industry, not to mention our parks, Game Lands and state forests. Currently, more than 400 species of alien or exotic invasive forest insects and diseases are established in the U.S., and some of these have spread rapidly, causing significant economic and ecological impacts. Our trees currently endangered by these exotic threats may not totally disappear, because scientists are fighting the invasion by early detection of the pests and monitoring their spread, while managing the forests where they are found. Restoration efforts of such species as the American chestnut and elm are helping to reestablish these species as well. Our forests are under siege, but scientists are working hard to protect them by searching for biological and, in some cases, chemical controls. As individuals we can do our small part in discouraging the spread of these pests. We can also all become more aware of the infestations at our door, and if noticed, we can report our findings to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture 866-253-7189 or at: badbug@ state.pa.us

MAY 2012

Pennsylvania Game News - May 2012

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