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Males alone do not create an infestation, so it is necessary, through the field searches, to determine if there are egg masses, which indicate a reproducing population.
Together, the two systems are effective, but Ravlin says there is a large margin for error in the field searches. “The egg masses are very difficult to find. They are hidden under rocks, under leaves, and behind pieces of bark. They are just simply difficult to see.”
A better way, he suggests, would be to use dogs, especially German Shepherds, for the searches. “They are so sensitive to smells. The search would be more efficient and we could make better predictions about the number of egg masses in the area.”
Miscalculation of egg masses could be a major problem since one mass contains 300 to 1,000 larvae per female. “The reproductive potential is great,” Ravlin says, “so you can’t be too careful when searching for eggs.”
Controlling the gypsy moth involves more than monitoring the mother population. “There are" parasites and predators which naturally keep the population down.” Ravlin says. “You don’t want to' disturb this balance too much because if you drastically reduce the gypsy population then the predators look for something else to feed on and then it is possible that the predator population will decrease. When this happens, the moth population has a chance to rebuild and you are faced with another population explosion.”
Another factor in controlling the moth is determining what life stage of the moth is most susceptible to chemical and biological controls. “There is only one generation of the moth per year and the life cycle from
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