‘Murder hornets’ and now gypsy moths? Experts warn of new Washington infestation

The state of Washington can’t seem to catch a break this year.

The first case of coronavirus in the U.S. was confirmed in Washington. The first sighting of the “murder hornet” was in Washington.

Now, the state is facing the threat of a gypsy moth infestation, according to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

Inslee issued an emergency proclamation this week, declaring a gypsy moth infestation as “an imminent danger,” according to the governor’s proclamation. Asian gypsy moths and Asian-European hybrid gypsy moths are threatening Snohomish County specifically, CNN reported.

Gypsy moths are known for causing major ecological damage by “defoliating” forests, or eating so many of a tree’s or shrub’s leaves that they create added stress on the plant that can result in its death, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The problem is especially difficult for Washington’s evergreen trees, which are more likely to die in an infestation, WSDA says.

And dead trees left by defoliation serve as fuel for Washington’s wildfires, according to WSDA.

Gypsy moth populations easily grow as they can lay up to 1,000 eggs per year, according to WSDA. Those eggs hatch into millions of caterpillars that fall out of trees and cover your car, house, patio furniture and even you, WSDA says.

If an area gets hit with an infestation, you can hear what sounds like steady rain that goes on for several weeks outside your window -- but it’s actually thousands of caterpillars pooping on your yard, according to WSDA.

Gypsy moth populations have been permanently established in almost half of U.S. states, WSDA says. And once they’ve been established, you can never get rid of them, according to WSDA.

“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,” Inslee said in the proclamation.

The Department of Agriculture proposed using Btk aerial spray to combat the threat of an infestation, according to Inslee’s proclamation. Btk is a bacteria found in soil that kills moth larvae when they eat it, but it does not harm people, Oregon.gov says.

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 8:38 PM with the headline "‘Murder hornets’ and now gypsy moths? Experts warn of new Washington infestation."