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Re: gypsy moths

>We have about 10 trees infested with gypsy moth caterpillars.  This is
>the third year and we have lost one oak so far.    I called and arborist
>and he said it was too late to spray BT.  His solution was injection  of
>Bidrin (brand name insecticide).  Injection sounds alot safer than
>spraying, but I am totally unfamiliar with the method.   Does anyone have
>any insights into injection.  My one concern would be the birds.  I'm not
>even sure they do eat the caterpillars (they haven't been doing a very
>good job of it so far).
>
>Mary Lou --zone 5
>---------------------------------------------------------------------

Mary Lou,
        The Bidrin injection process is very effective against gypsy moths
caterpillars.  The three negatives associated with this procedure are:

(1)  It's usually expensive.
(2)  The Bidrin is a very toxic insecticide and must be used carefully.
Someone from the tree company must monitor the entire injection process.
The injection capsules must not be left unattended.
(3)  The wounds made to the tree by the injection process.

Of course, the alternative is the damage to the trees caused by the
defoliation of the caterpilllars.

The gypsy moth caterpillars could also be control by conventional
insecticides such as Sevin and Orthen, but these would have to be sprayed
thoroughly throughout the foliage and, if the trees are large, this would
require high pressure spray equipment, or maybe a helicopter. :-)

We continued to have a few minor problems with gypsy moth here in southern
Maryland but nothing like what we went through during the late 1980's and
early 1990's.

Bob Stewart
Southern Maryland

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