This web site provides information about the gypsy moth and Minnesota's efforts to monitor this invasive species. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture tracks its movement into our state and we treat localized infestations to protect our forests, local property values, and our state's vital tourism industry.
 The gypsy moth is one of North America's most destructive tree pests. In eastern states with significant infestations, gypsy moth caterpillars have defoliated entire forests and caused millions of dollars of damage to urban landscapes. Minnesota participates in a multi-state effort to prevent or delay this harmful pest from becoming established here.
Gypsy moth infestations are common from maritime Canadian provinces south to North Carolina and as far west as central Wisconsin. There are no known permanent populations of gypsy moths in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is responsible for ongoing monitoring to detect high moth concentrations. We organize a trapping program each summer to look for moths across the state. Cooperation from landowners and land managers is essential for our success.
If gypsy moths are found, standard treatment protocols are followed to eradicate the pest or diminish its population. We use approved treatments such as a biological insecticide (Btk) and mating disruptants that mimic the female gypsy moth's pheromone.
Regulations to contain the pest populations are updated each year by the federal government in cooperation with the states. Regulatory decisions are based on data from the trapping program. It is illegal to knowingly transport any life stage of the gypsy moth out of a quarantined area. Businesses that regularly remove high-risk materials from the quarantine can apply for a compliance agreement with the MDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This agreement specifies terms of movement to minimize the risk of introducing gypsy moths to uninfested areas.
The gypsy moth program in Minnesota is advised by the Gypsy Moth Program Advisory Committee, comprised of specialists from the MDA, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA Forest Service, and the University of Minnesota.
Browse through the rest of the site to learn more about the gypsy moth, or watch any of the videos we have available about gypsy moth or Minnesota's program to manage them.
Invaders At Our Doorstep
Want to learn more about gypsy moth and other invasive species threatening Minnesota's forests? Check out our video series, "Invaders At Our Doorstep: Exotic Forest Pests of the Midwest". Find out how the Minnesota Department of Agriculture monitors and, if found, manages this pest.
MDA Contact
Arrest the Pest Hotline
888-545-6684
gypsy.moth@state.mn.us
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