All Quiet on the Gypsy Moth Front

All Quiet on the Gypsy Moth Front. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Last summer, only six gypsy moths were trapped in Oregon. That's a very low number compared to past years, and it's good news to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, which normally would be getting ready to spray for gypsy moth this time of year. ODA's Helmuth Rogg says two factors may have contributed to the low count. ROGG: The gypsy moth population that is established in the eastern part of the US is on a down cycle at the moment. Secondly, maybe a positive side to the economic downturn is that we probably had less tourists come to Oregon from these infested states. Gypsy moth introductions to the state are always traced to someone unwittingly bringing the insect pest with them as they move or travel to Oregon. Of the six detections last year, none show evidence of being a breeding population, but the traps will still go up later this spring, including the site of 2009's spray project. ROGG: We will still look for gypsy moth in the eradication program that we did last year in Eugene. Nobody knows if Oregon can have another year of no outbreaks, but everyone can at least take a breather in 2010. Rogg says in normal years, Oregon usually finds a new outbreak of gypsy moth as someone moves to or visits the state from back east, where gypsy moth is firmly established. ROGG: These are always new introductions that come to Oregon, and that's the problem. We cannot check every single RV or household truck that comes in from infested states to Oregon. That's why we have a very intensive trapping program. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.