Invasive Species Centre encourages scraping LDD moth egg masses off trees

The Invasive Species Centre with the Early Detection and Rapid Response Network Ontario are hosting the second LDD Egg Mass Scraping Contest.

They are encouraging Ontarians to scrape off invasive LDD eggs masses off trees and other hard surfaces.

Eastern Ontario is the focus area and has been the hardest hit for infestations and defoliation caused by these moths.

For instructions on how to enter the contest and how to safely remove egg masses, please see the news release below.

The Invasive Species Centre (ISC), through the Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) Network Ontario is hosting its second Ldd Egg Mass Scraping Contest to encourage residents of Ontario to get out and scrape off the invasive Ldd egg masses from their trees. Eastern Ontario, the current focus area of the EDRR Network, has been among the hardest hit areas for infestations and defoliation caused by the moth.

Last year, community members across Ontario scraped over 12,000 egg masses in the first Ldd Egg Mass Scraping Contest. “We’re calling on people across Ontario to help reduce the impact of this destructive forest pest, right in their own backyards, one egg mass at a time,” says Derissa Vincentini, community action leader at the Invasive Species Centre.

The ISC and EDRR Network offer these tips on removing egg masses:

1. Egg masses are tan-coloured and can be found on tree trunks, bark, or other hard surfaces. Egg masses are about 4 cm in diameter and contain 100 to 1,000 eggs.

2. Wear gloves and protective glasses while scraping eggs off the tree.

3. Use a scraper (i.e., a butter knife or paint scraper) to carefully remove the masses off tree trunks, branches, and outdoor equipment.

4. After removal, dispose of egg masses in a bucket of dish soap and water mixture.

5. Leave eggs in water for 48 hours then dispose.

To enter the Ldd Egg Mass Scraping Contest, scrape some eggs and snap a photo, fill out the entry form, and be automatically entered in the draw to win a prize! Two winners will be randomly selected to win a contest prize pack. Two entries per person is permitted. The early bird draw will take place Nov. 13, 2021, 4 p.m. EST and the grand prize draw will take place Dec. 3, 2021, 4 p.m. EST. An entry submitted prior to the early bird draw is entered in both the early bird and grand prize draws.

To learn more about Ldd moth, how to enter the contest, and to see full contest terms and conditions, check out the contest page here.