PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
ED  - ,
AID  - 10.48044/joa.1983.9.4.116
DP  - 1983 Apr 01
TA  - Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF)
PG  - 116--116
VI  - 9
IP  - 4
4099  - http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/9/4/116.short
4100  - http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/9/4/116.full
SO  - JOA1983 Apr 01; 9
AB  - Berberich, Stephen. 1982. Several new weapons show promise in the battle against gypsy moth. Am. Nurseryman 156(1): 187-190.Each spring communities in areas hardest hit by gypsy moth caterpillars must decide whether to spray pesticides. With limited control options, developing strategies for dealing with this formidable forest pest can be frustrating. Many of these new methods need further testing, but they show much promise. They also reflect the trend toward integrated pest management as an effective way to control insects that harm nursery crops and other plants. Numerous integrated programs for gypsy moth could be possible because of the many control methods, chemical and otherwise, that are available now or will be soon. Foreign parasites have been imported to fight gypsy moth in northeastern forests since 1980. The latest recruit, a tiny parasitic wasp, shows much potential for battling the pest. Scientists have recently reported improvements in a viral insecticide that can be used for controlling the pest. The insecticide, called Gypchek, contains a naturally occurring virus that is harmful to gypsy moth caterpillars. USDA scientists stopped a strong outbreak of gypsy moth in Michigan in spring, 1981, by releasing 10,000 sterilized male moths per day into infested forests. The sterile males mate with fertile females, but no offspring are produced, resulting in lower pest populations.