Toronto dealing with 'unprecedented' number of gypsy moth caterpillars this year
Toronto is currently dealing with an "unprecedented" number of gypsy moths this year, a caterpillar-turned-moth that poses a serious risk to trees across the city.
“We're certainly well aware of the fact it's a bad year for these gypsy moth larvae, etc. and that we are doing our best to deal with it,” Mayor John Tory said.
Residents have been reporting numerous sightings of dark and hairy gypsy moth caterpillars, which possess distinctive red dots on their backs.
Gypsy moths are known to emerge across the Greater Toronto Area in the spring, but this year large amounts of the insects appear to be popping up in more areas in the city.
“What we're seeing is gypsy moth is moving and we're seeing populations of gypsy moths roll larger in parts of the city that have never experienced it before,” Toronto Forest Healthcare Inspector Joel Harrison-Off told CP24.
A gypsy moth caterpillar eats a leaf on a tree Tuesday, June 12, 2007, in Trenton, N.J. (AP / Mel Evans)
A representative for pest control company Orkin Canada said the province is seeing an "unprecedented" influx of gypsy moths this year.
“I'm not gonna lie, this is the biggest year that we've seen into our call center where we've had thousands upon thousands of local residents that have been calling us across the province. Its been an uptick that has been unprecedented,” Bernie Grafe told CP24.
Despite being unwelcome critters by many, the caterpillars feed on tree leaves before forming a cocoon and transitioning into a moth, causing severe defoliation to trees.
The loss of leaves can stress the trees and make them more vulnerable to harm from other insects, diseases and weather fluctuations, according to the city.
Harrison-Off said the insects’ impact on trees is an ongoing issue the city has been battling.
“The defoliation on trees that hasn't been seen in these parts of the city before, it's raising a lot of concern and it's also drawing us into these areas more trying to come up with plans in terms of how to deal with it into the future,” he said.
Most healthy trees can withstand one to several years of severe defoliation by gypsy moths but some tree species are more vulnerable to the insects.
“For us, the concern is where we have oak dominant stands in the city, these are the types of trees that actually can die and go intp to decline from heavy feeding of gypsy moth. A lot of other trees, maples, norway maple, birch, bass woods, they can recover.
In previous years, the city has used aerial spraying of a pesticide to target large areas with a high prevalence of gypsy moths. However, the city opted not to use the spray in 2021.
“I think people don't understand that you don't just kind of use that sort of spray all the time. This is a year in which there wasn't a planned spray but there are measures being taken to do things to the trees and to treat the trees,” Tory said.
The city determines the need for an aerial spray after extensive egg mass surveying.
Due to small areas of gypsy moth populations, city staff decided to schedule a variety of ground-based treatments on roughly 5,000 city-owned trees this year.
Using an aerial spray now would be ineffective as caterpillars likely won’t be affected by the pesticides, Harrison-Off said.
For residents coping with their own gypsy moth infestation, the city says they can try to trap the caterpillars with a burlap cloth on their trees.
To prevent future gypsy moth outbreaks, Grafe recommends that residents search for any signs of eggs on their trees in May or early spring.
“Beginning of spring, you're going to inspect those trees, look for the little gray eggs, remove those, and put those in soapy water [to destroy them]” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Former Air Canada employees among suspects identified in gold heist at Pearson airport: police
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
'$6.66 per day': Advocacy groups disheartened by funding in budget for disability benefit
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
MPs summon ArriveCan contractor to the House to be admonished in rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.