Gypsy moths in Wisconsin

The gypsy moth caterpillar (Lymantria dispar, formerly Porthetria dispar) is known for defoliating over 200 species of trees, as well as plants.

In Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages the gypsy moth population with quarantines and insecticides, including aerial spraying of the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk).

Books, Dissertations, & Government documents (selected):

• Accommodating objectors to aerial spraying: trends and issues related to the 2004 gypsy moth suppression program


• Asian gypsy moth


• Bacillus thuringiensis: a cornerstone of modern agriculture


• Biological control: a global perspective - case studies from around the world


• Differential host use of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) by three lepidoptera (Papilio canadensis, Papilio glaucus, and Lymantria dispar): Role of biochemical adaptations in phenolic glycoside tolerance


• European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) outbreaks: a review of the literature


• Great gypsy moth war: the history of the first campaign in Massachusetts to eradicate the gypsy moth, 1890-1901


• Gypsy moth and forest management issues: public response to a proposed gypsy moth management program


• Insights from insects: what bad bugs can teach us


• Russia & United States Lymantriid monitoring program


• Selecting a pesticide for gypsy moth control

Gypsy moth websites:

• State of Wisconsin


• UW Extension


• WI DNR


• WI Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection


• U.S. Forest Service


• University of Virginia

[Image: Wisconsin DNR]

Crop-eating caterpillars cause state of emergency

Achaea catocaloides rena has been identified as the insect destroying coffee, cocoa, banana and plantain farms, and contaminating water sources, across Liberia and Guinea in Africa.

According to CABI, "More than 20,000 people have so far had to evacuate their homes."

A. catocaloides rena is a member of the Noctuidae or "Owlet" moth family in the order Lepidoptera.

See also:

• Crop-eating caterpillars swarm over Liberia (CABI)


• Lepidoptera types of the Royal Museum for Central Africa
  
• Crop Protection Compendium


• Entomology Research Guide (UW-Madison Libraries)

[Image of A. janata caterpillar (not A. catocaloides) by Djovani. Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14126791@N03/1678406276]

[Copyrighted image of A. catocaloides rena moth used by permission of the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium. http://www.metafro.be/lepidoptera/butterflies/RMCA-2171/taxon]