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Plant Industry - Plant Protection Section


Gypsy Moth Treatment Program


SprayingSince the introduction of gypsy moth to Boston, MA in 1869, government and private organizations have controlled gypsy moth populations using many different methods. One of the more popular methods at the turn of the century was lead arsenate, a highly effective pesticide which is unfortunately very toxic to animals and humans. NCDA&CS uses products that are benign to humans and animals, while still achieving the goal of eradication or suppression of localized gypsy moth populations.

Each year, potential problem areas are identified using data from NCDA&CS gypsy moth traps.  During the fall, each infestation is examined in hopes of finding the exact population location.  If it is found and it is small (several acres or less in size), it may be treated from the ground.  If the infestation is not found or if it is too large to treat from the ground, it is treated aerially.  Depending on estimated gypsy moth population density, landcover/landuse type, and funding, these areas are treated using one of the methods detailed below.


There are many insecticides labeled for use against gypsy moth; however, NCDA&CS only uses the environmentally friendly insecticides detailed below, as others are more toxic to nontarget organisms or harmful to the environment.  As new products become available, NCDA&CS, in cooperation with the US Forest Service and the Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Foundation, will evaluate their potential for use in the NCDA&CS Gypsy Moth Program.

Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, trade name Foray® 76B)

Btk is a bacterium commonly found in forest soils worldwide.  It has become one of the most valuable biological pest management tools for a variety of agricultural, forestry, and urban pests.  While it is highly toxic to target pests, it is very safe in regard to humans and animals.  For example, different formulations of the same biopesticide are labeled to be applied to organic grains such as shelled corn and soybeans during storage and/or to organic bagged grains (popcorn) to prevent Indian meal moth.  Here is a link to Organic Gardening which refers to the use of Btk in the home vegetable garden to control cabbage loopers.,7518,s-2-9-266,00.html

Btk must be consumed by caterpillars to be effective.  Once ingested, the alkaline gut of the caterpillar activates the bacteria.  Note that, as humans and animals have acidic rather than alkaline digestive tracts, the bacteria is harmless to us.  Caterpillar feeding ceases; within several days, the caterpillar has died.  Btk is unique in being highly effective while also being environmentally friendly.  Btk is effective at all gypsy moth population densities.

Btk is usually applied by airplane or helicopter, but may be applied by a mist blower on the ground.  It is usually applied twice: once when approximately 70 percent of the larvae have reached the second instar (mid to late April), and a second time five to seven days later.  While harmless, Btk will smell bad during the several hours it takes to dry. 

Today’s highly advanced aerial application technology has enabled precision, ultra-low volume treatments of one-third of a gallon to the acre per application, or 0.001 fluid ounces per square feet.  This means that one cup of Btk will cover approximately 8,167 square feet.  Btk is highly sensitive to solar radiation; thus, care must be taken to apply the product at exactly the correct time.

Mating Disruption Pheromone Flakes

Several Several decades ago, scientists isolated and discovered how to manufacture the chemical compound that serves as the female gypsy moth sex pheromone. Specific to gypsy moths, this compound was first used to bait the traps used to catch male gypsy moths and estimate gypsy moth population densities. Scientists discovered another use for this compound: if a treatment of enough pheromone is applied at the right time (just before male moths emerge from pupation), it saturates the area with pheromone so that males would not be able to follow the natural pheromone scent trails released by female gypsy moths. This decreases mating success and suppresses the gypsy moth population and since it is specific to gypsy moths only, does not affect off-target species. Such a treatment is only effective at lower population densities. If population densities are moderate to high, male moths will find female moths by chance, even without being able to follow the natural pheromone scent trails.

There are currently 3 materials available for mating disruption treatments: Disrupt II, SPLAT-GM, and SPLAT-GMO, all of which are aerially applied:

Disrupt® II (Hercon Environmental, Emigsville, PA) ) is a plastic laminate formulation with the pheromone (17.9% active ingredient by weight) sandwiched between two outer layers of PVC plastic. The laminate is chopped into small flakes, which are applied with a sticking agent (MicroTac, Hercon Environmental, Emigsville, PA), and the pheromone is slowly released through the edges of the small flakes over a period of several weeks.

SPLAT-GM® (ISCA Technologies, Riverside California) is a biodegradable amorphous polymer matrix formulation that releases the pheromone over a period of 11 weeks. It is 13% active ingredient by weight; the remaining ingredients consist of waxes, water, emulsifiers, oils, and preservatives.

SPLAT-GMO® is an organic-approved version of SPLAT-GM®.

Nucleopolyhedrosis virus (Gypchek®) Caterpillar

Gypchek is a naturally-occurring virus that only targets gypsy moth.  It is applied by airplane or helicopter.  Under the right circumstances, spectacular epizootics can occur, leading to the collapse of gypsy moth populations.

Gypchek is only occasionally used to address gypsy moth infestations for two reasons.  Because of the limited market, Gypchek is only manufactured by the US Forest Service and is available only in limited quantites.  Also, like most viruses, Gypchek is highly communicable among individual larvae.  For Gypchek to be successful, it must be passed from infected to uninfected larvae by physical contact.  This only occurs at very high population densities.

Mimic® (Tibufenozide)

Tibufenozide is a pesticide in the class of insect growth regulators.  This means that, once exposed to tibufenozide, caterpillars are unable to successfully molt and grow.  This prevents them from reaching maturity and reproducing.  Tibufenozide may be applied by air or ground, but is most commonly used for ground treatments.  It is successful on all population densities.

Dimilin® (Diflubenzuron)

Like Mimic®, Dimilin® is an insect growth regulator which prohibits caterpillars from reaching maturity.  Dimilin® may also applied by ground or air, but is most commonly applied from the ground.  Like Mimic®, it is successful at all population densities.


Watch a Gypsy Moth Treatment in North Carolina

Methods of Application


truck (Spraying)

If a gypsy moth population has been precisely located and is small enough, NCDA&CS personnel may treat from the ground using a mist blower.  Ground application of insecticides allows for more precise pesticide application and more thorough canopy coverage than aerial application.  However, it becomes infeasible when an infestation is either inaccessible by vehicle or too large to reasonably treat by ground. 


Airplane The most common method of pesticide application for the control of gypsy moth is by aircraft.  Either fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters may be used.  Spray aircraft are low-flying, often 50 feet above treetops.  If you are in a gypsy moth spray block, it may appear that the aircraft is out of control or crashing.  This is not the case.  However, when in doubt, call your local emergency management office.  NCDA&CS always informs local emergency management personnel prior to gypsy moth treatments.

John H. Ghent, USDA Forest Service,

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NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division - Plant Protection Section
Plant Pest Administrator - Phillip L. Wilson
Physical Address: 216 West Jones Street, Raleigh NC 27603