Town of Oakville removing moth egg masses from over 2,000 municipal street trees
Published September 2, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Oakville Town Council recently approved funding to remove Lymantria Dispar Dispar (LDD) moth egg masses from 2,300 municipal street trees this fall.
The LDD moth, also known as the European Gypsy Moth, is a non-native insect that is considered a major pest in North America. Due to the damage they can cause, Halton Region is diligent when it comes to taking action against them to avoid a significant loss of trees.
They are known to target maples, birches and beeches, among other species. However, all species of oak, in particular, are susceptible to the LDD moth. This is of concern due to oaks being high-value heritage trees with a big significance to Oakville’s landscape and neighbourhoods.
“The town’s tree canopy is one of our greatest assets and ongoing efforts are required to preserve it. Preventative actions this fall will further protect our urban forest from these damaging invasive insects next spring,” said Mayor Rob Burton following the approval of the funding to remove the egg masses.
The upcoming egg removal will help reduce next year’s population levels as well as a heavy LDD infestation, but there are several things residents can also do to protect their trees and help control the spread.
In the summer and fall, residents may physically remove LDD moth egg masses by using a putty knife or trowel to scrape eggs into a container. Eggs can then be destroyed by leaving them in soapy water for several days.
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In the spring, residents may apply sticky bands or burlap around trees to trap emerging LDD moth caterpillars. Commercial sticky bands can be found at most home and garden stores.
Residents may also use gloves to hand-pick caterpillars and crush or contact a professional tree care service provider to discuss spraying.
For more information, click here.
For detailed control tips, visit the Health Canada Pest Control page.
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