Question
Hello, I purchased Volck oil to control gypsy moths.  Is this product effective for this application?  I live in central NJ where we are having a recent problem with this pest.  Thus far, the eggs are still intact.  If this is an acceptable product, when is the best time to spray and how often?  Thank you.

Answer
Various mechanical control measures, such as egg mass removal or adult moth trapping may have some value at low population levels (less than 10 egg masses per acre) but have little effect when populations are high (520 egg masses per acre or more).
Volck oil will kill the egg masses IF you can find them and put the oil on the mass. Finding all egg masses is next to impossible since they hide in so many different places. It is really time for the eggs to start to hatch so your application may not be effective. The egg masses should be sprayed before the leaf bud out on hardwood trees. The caterpillars will hatch when the leaves bud out.  

I am not sure how much you may know about gypsy moth so I would suggest that you contact the office of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry , Gypsy Moth section,  Joseph Zoltowski 609-292-5442, They have a program of suppression of gypsy moth for 2008 and maybe spraying your area for control. Here is the web link to this information.

http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/gypsymoth.html





Tactics Suggested for Homeowners

Homeowners might want to consider one or more of the following tactics when gypsy moth populations are sparse. These activities do not guarantee a reduction or elimination of gypsy moth populations, nor will the activities guarantee to reverse the trend of an infestation of the gypsy moth. These activities are more practical for homeowners to use on individual yard trees than for land managers to use in forest stands.

Tactics Directed Against the Gypsy Moth

Remove objects around the outside of the home that provide shelter for gypsy moth larvae and pupae, such as flaps of bark, dead tree branches, dead trees, boxes, cans, or old tires.

Diversify the composition of trees and plants on your property to include species not preferred by the gypsy moth, such as tulip or yellow poplar, honeylocust, ash, hickory, dogwood, mountain ash, and many conifers.  

Destroy egg masses found on outbuildings, on fencing, and in woodpiles. Simply scraping egg masses onto the ground will not destroy them. Burn them or soak them in kerosene or soapy water. Caution is urged because the hairs that coat the egg masses can cause allergic reactions. Egg masses can also be destroyed by palnting them with commercially available products, such as liquid detergents

Place burlap on trees, especially oaks, to provide shade and shelter for older larvae when they seek out protected resting places during the day. The number of larvae and pupae that rest under the burlap provides valuable information about the severity of infestation on your property. When populations are sparse, larvae and pupae beneath burlap can be manually destroyed

Use barrier bands, consisting of commercially available double-sided sticky tapes, or sticky material such as Tanglefoot, petroleum jelly, or grease, to prevent larvae from crawling up the trunks of susceptible trees. These products should be applied to the surface of an impermeable material, such as duct tape or tar paper, and not applied directly to the bark. Petroleum-based products can cause injury (swelling and cankering) on thin-barked trees.