Gypsy moth caterpillars

[dogg57]

About 2,900 acres of trees in New Jersey - nearly three times the number affected last year - have been defoliated by gypsy moth caterpillars, according to a statewide aerial survey released Friday. But the number is small compared with years such as 2008, when more than 339,000 acres were damaged by the leaf-eating invasive pests, state officials said. "While we have seen very low gypsy moth populations over the last few years, we must continue intense surveillance as well as treatment to suppress this damaging insect," state Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20130727_Gypsy_moth_caterpillars_damage_thousands_of_acres_in_N_J_.html#UgzSt9usjK87hvvh.99​

 

[Teegate]

This weekend we saw the damage from them in various places.

 

[jokerman]

In 2008 or 2009 there were tons of gypsy moths starting to eat my trees for second year in a row and I was worried that all my trees would be killed since they can only take one year being without leaves from what I've heard. However, June was a VERY wet month that year. Almost in synch, they all started dropping like flies, massive die-off. I though tthey had sprayed something. Within a week or 2 they were all dead and I was so relieved. It turns out that they got some type of fungus from all the moisture. I have not had ANY since then but I know they are on the move from wherever they are now. This June was a wet month but doesn't sound like it was wet enough.