The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says it’s go-time if you want to get ahead of this year’s LDD moth infestation.
They say this is the best time to remove the egg clusters of the insects formerly known as Gypsy Moths. They describe the egg clusters as yellowish-brown, flat and covered in fuzzy hair. The clusters or masses are about an inch in diameter and can attach to anything wood, like trees, fence posts, outdoor furniture, and buildings. The ministry recommends putting on gloves, picking off the clusters, and putting them in a bucket of soapy water.
In the spring, landowners can put bands of burlap around their trees. The larvae will congregate in that area and can be physically removed and killed. They recommend doing as much work to combat the moths as possible in the early months of the year.
In 2021, the Ministry saw an increase in defoliation across Southern Ontario in the Kemptville, Bancroft, Pembroke, and Peterborough districts. There has also been growing defoliation in the Ministry districts of North Bay, Parry Sound, and Sault Ste. Marie.