Gypsy Moth Infestation Threatens Washington State

If Murder Hornets weren’t bad enough! It looks like there’s a new bug in town! While we are dealing with the Coronavirus and the nasty reality of Murder Hornets, the Gypsy Moth has made its way to the U.S!

Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation due to the non-native pests adding that there is an “imminent danger of an infestation.”

RELATED: ‘Murder Hornets’ Spotted In The U.S. For The First Time

“This imminent danger of infestation seriously endangers the agricultural and horticultural industries of the state of Washington and seriously threatens the economic well-being and quality of life of state residents,” the proclamation wrote.

The Department of Agriculture warned that Gypsy Moths have the ability to fly long distances and can cause a lot of damage.

“Large (Asian gypsy moth) infestations can completely defoliate trees,” the agency said per CNN. “This defoliation can severely weaken trees and shrubs, making them more susceptible to disease. Repeated defoliation can lead to the death of large sections of forests, orchards and landscaping.”

While Murder Hornets can harm humans, the Gypsy Moth cannot.

The tachinid fly is an old adversary of mine that I can never seem to avoid in my moth studies! These introduced flies were intended to quell the introduced gypsy moth, but they tend to prefer our large, native lepidoptera due to their brooding behaviors.

Check out it’s anatomy! https://t.co/S26uhUPwpM pic.twitter.com/dujzEukhE9

— citrus mom 🍊🦋 (@momonamii) May 5, 2020