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one-quarter to one-half acre of trees — right in the middle of the campground!”
To date, park personnel have taken several measures to monitor and suppress gypsy moth activity at the site: Scraping of egg masses, burlap banding, destruction of pupae and trapping male moths.
In addition, camping regulations have been altered, Mr. Watkins noted. Visitors to the campground are allowed to stay only two days at a time, instead of 14 days as previously allowed, in order to reduce the risk of spread of gypsy moth pupae on camping vehicles.
According to Mr. Jacobsen, the Matthews Arm infestation is the worst in the park.
“Next year,” he said, “we fully anticipate having to take the next step upwards in our control measures — spraying Bt.” He made this prediction cautiously, pointing out that they’ll have to await the results of gypsy moth population surveys this fall — based on counts of egg masses in the infested area — before making the final decision.
In sum, Mr. Jacobsen described the park’s approach to the gypsy moth problem as one of “integrated pest management.” Mechanical, biological and chemical controls on certain highvalue areas — as well as “no action” — are all options the park will consider as control measures.
Most of the Shenandoah National Park is, of course, uninhabited. In populated areas, the gypsy moth problem promises to be much more complex and controversial.
Robert E. Bailey, an official with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, describes the current situation as follows:
“We, and the governor, are beginning to get a few calls and letters from citizens who live in or near defoliated areas in Clarke and Loudoun counties, asking what the state can do to control the pest.
“Until now, most of the comments voiced by citizens were against any treatment projects. Now cries for relief are beginning to be heard. Defoliation almost always elicits that response.”
Mr. Bailey’s description sounds shockingly like a replay of what has happened time and again in New England states.
Cal Morris, a Virginia Division of Forestry entomologist, hints that Virginia localities would do well to closely watch events in northeastern states.
“Otherwise,” he says of forest management, “we’ll be managing for catastrophe.”
Mr. Morris says that although much about the gypsy moth is unknown and unpredictable, “the situation in the mountains and the Piedmont of Virginia is expected to be very simi
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