Hi,

Thanks for using the Hotline. The news report was in regards to Asian and European gypsy moth. Because of the time of year that you encountered a moth, we can rule it out as gypsy moth.

During this time of year, there are no live adult forms of gypsy moths. If gypsy moths are present in April, they would be tiny caterpillars that recently hatched from eggs which would have been laid by female moths last summer. (The females lay the eggs and then die.) It takes several weeks for the tiny caterpillars to grow and develop before they pupate and emerge as adults, most frequently in July. Therefore, because your moth was captured as an adult in April, we can rule it out as gypsy moth. I can't be certain of the species without the specimen in front of me, but it is likely a cutworm moth, a very common native species that develops early in our area.

To learn more about gypsy moth identification and other facts, please visit:

http://pestdetector.forestry.oregonstate.edu/programs/asian-gypsy-moth

If you would like to place a detection trap for gypsy moth on your property, the survey season is June - Sept (when the adults, if present, are active). Visit:

http://www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/trap-volunteer


Thanks for using the hotline!

Regards,
Wyatt Williams
Oregon Department of Forestry

Wyatt Williams
April 19, 2016, 2:44 a.m.