The Winter Moth of My Discontent

Last Updated (Thursday, 04 December 2008 10:27) Written by Raymond Nakamura

Seemed too early for Christmas decorations when these plastic wrappings covered in goo appeared on our street.

(Photo:R Nakamura)

Seems they are for catching Winter Moths, an European import.

(Cartoon: R Nakamura)

As much as I believe in finding ways to live in harmony with nature, I seem to get inappropriate satisfaction from seeing these critters hung out to dry.

(the brownish pellets are the females. The winged ones are the males. (Photo: R. Nakamura).

I met some volunteers putting these up on their street and they said that after several years of this, the numbers seem to go down. If you'd like this done on your street, you can call up the Street Trees people and if they think your area needs it, they'll give you the stuff.

Apparently, however, the moth populations can fluctuate for other reasons as well. And the problem with the wrapping method is that if they get clogged up, other females can just crawl over the carcasses. As well, caterpillars can still parachute in from other places.

Have you seen winter moths in your neighbourhood? What do you do about them?

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