Nostalgic Gypsy Moth Memories

[Mikey]

How can someone get nostalgic about a Gypsy Moth ?

Well, I guess a person can get nostalgic about just about anything

Where I grew up in NW Jersey ... in the later 70's into the 80's we had a terrible problem with Gypsy Moth infestations throughout the whole NW of the state.
They were so bad, the devastation was staggering.
Imagine entire mountains (in the summertime) completely brown because all the tree leaves were all literally eaten.
You actually could hear hear the masses of them chewing.
It sounded like high pitched wheeze.
They'b be all over the houses, inside the cars, everywhere.
It was horrible... like something out of a horror movie.

By the mid 80's they started spraying pesticides with airplanes about once a week.
They basically crop dusted the entire NW of the state every week.

It actually worked.
By the next year, they were almost totally gone.

Today, it's just another nostagic memory for me.

Thanks for reading

[mitchedwards]

I remember seeing gypsy moths in Alabama when I was growing up. But come to think of it I have not seen one in years.

[jessica]

Wow. That sounds really creepy!! What a neat experience to have lived through.

Someday I want to see something like that...like a locust infestation. Maybe eat some, too.

[SUP-Ronin]

We have large gaggles of Miller Moths here. They are fairly harmless. Although they get pretty bad some years the numbers vary, and don't cause the type of damage you mentioned, but they are annyoing, and the fly into the halogen lights, and burn up and stink all smelly. One time I drove thru a huge flock of them on the highway, and they totally covered the windshield with smashed ones. They crap on the window sills leaving little brown spots, and my dog likes to eat them, which I encourage.

Miller Moths

[Mikey]

Our infestation was really bad because it was when they were in their caterpillar stage.

Besides the damage they caused, I just hate caterpillars to begin with --- so it was horrible for me.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

I remember visiting my grandparents in NY state. We bought one of those pheromone (sp?) bags to trap them and the thing was full by the next day.

[Nostalgiabuff]

I don't know if I would get nostalgic about it but I do remember it well. The road were literally crawling with the caterpillars. It was gross. We actually still get them in NY, although not on the scale of the 80's. I cut and burn the branches with their nasty little nests every summer.

[jessica]

Those caterpillars must have made a mess. Did you ever hear them pop as you accidentally walked on them?