For those who want to do something about the gypsy moth eggs before they hatch next spring (besides begging for a wet spring so the fungus kills the caterpillars), I've found a lot of information mostly leading to spraying the eggs with a horticultural oil product. If the egg masses are on a flat surface it's easy to scrape them off and dump them in a bucket of soapy water, but if they're on tree bark it's a whole different story. This is not really scrape-able without damaging the tree. The Virginia Cooperative Extension has a good page: Gypsy Moth Management for Homeowners on Small Properties ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Egg mass treatments (prior to egg hatch) Since each egg mass contains from 500 to 1000 eggs, destruction of egg masses before hatch can have an impact on populations. Starting in the fall, search your property, including trees, outdoor furniture and play equipment, for egg masses. In some areas of VA, eggs hatch as early as mid-March, so egg masses must be destroyed before that time. • Using a putty knife or similar tool, scrape the egg masses into a plastic bag or can. Once collected, empty the contents of the bag into a container of soapy water (dish soap works well) and soak for a day or two. • An option to physically removing egg masses is to saturate egg masses before hatch with a solution of horticultural oil labeled for gypsy moth (available at garden stores). This will smother the gypsy moth larvae (caterpillars) within the eggs. This solution is available commercially as Golden Pest Spray Oil® (Stoller Enterprises, Inc.), or you can make your own using soybean oil and water (1:1). Use a small spray bottle, household sprayer, or "supersoaker" water gun to soak the egg masses. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I ordered the Golden Pest Spray Oil and I think I'm going to get myself a supersoaker water gun (might as well enjoy the process). Claire

rhizo, I used to read your comments on another forum or forums over the years and I have wondered what happened to you. I am so glad you responded here. I read your other comments on this forum so realize you are well-versed in insects. The forums I may remember you from and that I used to frequent are Hosta Forum, Cottage Garden Forum, Perennials Forum, Cactus & Succulents Forum, Container Gardening, House Plants, to name a few. I was "Patann" before Houzz took over GardenWeb. Thank you SO MUCH for your comment above about the Cercropia, because this is a huge moth (still on my front door and it is 8 p.m. now) l and I cannot bear to kill it thinking it is a Gypsy. If it doesn't fy away tonight my husband says he will free it tomorrow morning. I saw a picture of its wing on a site but the name was not connected to it. I will try to link that site here if I can. If I can't, I will link it on a separate post on this Forum. Thank you so much again. Pat

For my big trees I only can use systemic product. I really can't spray like you. They're 50-60'+ tall, and the emerald ash borer damage starts on tree tops (missing leaves). My goal is to kill the bugs and save the trees, if there is anything I would use to save the trees and bees, you let me know. A commercial powerful sprayer can spray the tree tops, but you would also spray neighbors houses and yards. My only option is to use systemic pesticide for my problems here. There is another thing, I don't want to spend $10,000 to cut down 5 trees, that's very expensive for me. Green Light Emerald Ash Borer Killer is a earth friendly product compare to Bayers. I used it for one year, but it costs too much this year compare to Bayers. Our local government also advise people to save the ash trees, everyone is using Bayers here, I mean all my neighbors, there is no way to spray tall trees...... saving trees is my goal here. http://hort.uwex.edu/articles/homeowner-guide-emerald-ash-borer-insecticide-treatments/ There can be another option, the town could spray everyone's trees with chemicals, but there is no funding for it.

These haven't reached my part of the country...but the oak processionary moth has...with horrible persistent hairs causing allergic reactions, skin blisters and general all-round nastiness...as well as defoliating oaks. Nature really is red in tooth and claw (and hair).