May 13, 2021
The Gypsy Moth is an invasive species. Unfortunately, they have invaded the Rideau Lakes Area causing considerable damage to both deciduous and coniferous trees and there is the likelihood of creating far more damage this coming spring and summer. These moths were accidentally introduced into Massachusetts in 1869 by a French naturalist trying to cross the European gypsy moth with North American silkworms. Fact Sheet
In 2020 our lake was right on the edge of the infestations.
Scraping your trees and spraying the egg mass area with horticultural dormant oil, you could also consider purchasing various products at a local nursery to trap the caterpillars to stop them from climbing your trees and eventually eating the foliage. Most deciduous trees could possibly withstand a couple of years of defoliation if they are healthy, yet coniferous trees, such as the white pine, could die within one year if they were stripped of their needles.
This document has lots of information on what you can do to help with this infestation.