Gypsy Moth Caterpillars Wreak Havoc On Cape Cod
BOSTON (CBS) - They're back! Gypsy moth caterpillars are wreaking havoc on hardwood trees on Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts.
"I've been here for four years, and haven't seen it this bad," says Larry Dapsis, of the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Service. "Usually, the winter moth caterpillar is first at the dinner table, but this year, it's the gypsy moth."
The big, hairy caterpillars can eat 12 square inches of leaves a day and the result is tracts of hardwoods that look like winter, or early spring. They're virtually stripped of their leaves.
And it's not just a problem if you're looking for shade. "Homeowners are very concerned," says Dapsis, "They want to know if their trees will die and sometimes the stress of being defoliated can kill the trees."
But the caterpillars are done eating now. Soon, they'll turn into moths. And judging from their numbers, it should be interesting to see.