Hearings Monday on gypsy moth infestations

Adult gypsy moths
The adult female is an off-white color, and cannot fly. The adult male is dark brown with markings.
Photo courtesy of Purdue University

The state Department of Agriculture begins a series of hearings Monday night in northeastern Minnesota on the situation regarding gypsy moths.

Department spokesman Michael Schommer said the gypsy moth is a destructive tree pest that can quickly destroy a forest.

Schommer said state officials found several new infestations of gypsy moths in Lake and Cook counties last year.

Gypsy moth larva
The gypsy moth larvae do the damage by eating foliage off trees.
Photo courtesy of USDA Forest Service

"We have a monitoring system in place, so that if there's an infestation in some part of the state we're able to get out there and eradicate it before it can spread," Schommer said. "At some point that main wave will catch up with us. But, we figure the longer we can go with delaying that infestation the better off it is for the forest."

Monday's meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Grand Portage Casino.

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