CLARE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
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  • Home
    • Upcoming Events
  • Tree & Plant Sale
  • Gypsy Moth
    • Gypsy Moth News
    • Population Maps
    • FAQ'S
    • Gypsy Moth Identification & Life Cycle
    • Natural Enemies
    • Foray 48b Bacterial Insecticide
    • Landowner Management >
      • Gypsy Moth Traps
      • Removal Guide
    • Links For More Information
  • Soil Erosion
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Permit Fee Schedule
    • Permit Application
    • Best Management Practices >
      • Silt Fence
  • Forestry
    • Qualified Forest Program
    • Find a Professional
    • Oak Wilt
    • Forestry Project Referrals
  • About Us
    • FOIA
    • Programs >
      • Farm Bill Programs
      • MAEAP
    • Planting Instructions
    • Staff & Board Members
    • Board Meetings & Minutes
    • Our Partners
    • Donate
  • NRCS
Landowner Management
Removal Guide
Caterpillar Prevention 

You are the first line of defense for protecting your property from damage by gypsy moth. Take time to inspect your trees, shrubs, structures, lawn objects, and recreational vehicles periodically for the various life forms of gypsy moth. 

You can also purchase Gypsy Moth Traps from the district. For more information, please follow this link. 

DO NOT REMOVE EGG MASSES IN THE FALL

They must be left where the female moth laid the mass so they are counted by a fall survey team.

You may destroy all egg masses in the month of April before they hatch.  Scrape them into a bucket of soapy water and let them sit for a day.  Mechanical Controls (Tree & Barrier Bands) can be used on trees in your yard to help reduce the number of caterpillars feeding on foliage of the trees.  Conventional chemical insecticides can effectively control gypsy moth in some situations.  However, precautionary measures must be followed to avoid toxicity to humans, animals and other non-target organisms.  Always follow all label instructions when using these or any other pest control product.

We need everyone’s help in detecting gypsy moth populations and keeping this insect from spreading to new neighborhoods.  Failure to inspect household articles for gypsy moth life stages prior to movement from a regulated area is a violation of USDA quarantine regulations and may result in significant civil penalties.

To be most effective in minimizing defoliation Btk Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (commonly found in soil and on plants) is applied by aerial spraying when the caterpillars are less than one inch long.  When caterpillars eat Btk the protein crystals dissolve in their digestive system and become toxic.  Within three to five days they die.

As caterpillars get larger, the efficacy of Btk diminishes.  Btk has a reported residual activity (i.e. how long it remains potent) of about one week and is broken down by sunlight.  Btk  is only known to be toxic to feeding caterpillars of moths and butterflies and is quite safe to humans, birds, fish, pets, beneficial insects and other non-target organisms.

District Information
Located in the 2nd Floor
Clare County Courthouse
PO Box 356
225 W. Main Street 
​Harrison Michigan 48625


​Telephone: 989-539-6401


 ​OFFICE HOURS
Monday-Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm
The conservation is a field office. Call to verify someone will be in the office.

​OFFICE STAFF
  Christiane Rathke -Interim Administrator
ClareCD@macd.org

Christiane Rathke-Soil Erosion Agent
christiane.rathke@macd.org
​
Toni Maize - Spongy Moth Coordinator
ClareGMCO@macd.org​​


Joe Nash - District Forester
​joe.nash@macd.org


​OUR MISSION
"To encourage the wise use
 of our natural resources through promotion and education."