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Asian gypsy moth
The Asian strain of the gypsy moth, which belongs to the same species as the European gypsy moth, feeds upon more than 500 species of plants (USDA APHIS & Forest Service, 2000), including many conifers and hardwood species. Unlike the European strain, the female Asian gypsy moths have the ability to fly up to 40 miles (USDA Forest Service, 1991); this attribute would greatly accelerate dispersal and colonization if the moths were to escape.

Entry of Asian gypsy moths via importation could be directly from its natural range or indirectly from established populations in countries/continents/hemispheres that have been previously invaded (Garner & Slavicek, 1996; Zlotina et al., 1999). The Asian gypsy moth has been introduced to Europe and has reached North America on both western and eastern seaboards several times as egg masses on ships (USDA APHIS & Forest Service, 2000). Each time, emergency control programs have succeeded in eradicating the moth. New introductions of Asian gypsy moth appear inevitable and established infestations would probably be extremely difficult to control.

Sources
Garner, K. J. and J. M. Slavicek. 1996. Identification and characterization of a RAPID-PCR marker for distinguishing Asian and North American gypsy moths. Insect Mol. Biol. 5: 81-91.

United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Forest Service 2000. Pest Risk Assessment for Importation of Solid Wood Packing Materials into the United States. USDA APHIS and Forest Service. August 2000.

United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 1991. Pest Risk Assessment of the Importation of Larch from Siberia and the Soviet Far East, Miscellaneous Publication No. 1495, September, 1991.

Zlotina, M. A., V. C. Mastro, J. S. Elkinton, and D. E. Leonard. 1999. Dispersal tendencies of neonate larvae of Lymantria mathura and the Asian form of Lymantria dispar (Lepidodoptera: Lymantriidae). Environ. Entomol. 28: 240-245.