Arrival in Ontario
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Lymantria dispar dispar originally arrived in Massachusetts in 1869, however it officially reached the province of Ontario in 1992. The Gypsy Moth travelled via firewood shipments and larvae being blown by the wind to new locations. The egg clusters had been laid on trees which were cut down and sold to different areas, causing the insect to reach previously unaffected parts of North America.
The moth's population in Ontario was initially under control, however it became a major problem in 2005. The deciduous forests located in the province made it easy for the moths to eat and lay eggs in an ideal habitat, which is why the population was able to spike so unexpectedly. The moths don't have many ways of spreading, but the ones that they do have are very efficient. This is why they arrived in Ontario in the first place; they laid eggs on trees that could travel further than they could ever fly.
The spread in Ontario is controlled better than it is in quite a few states, but this is partially because of the colder climate making it difficult for them to adapt to. The harsh Canadian winters are one of the main reasons that the Gypsy Moth hasn't already reached other parts of Canada, and hopefully organizations will implement more measures to prevent this.
The moth's population in Ontario was initially under control, however it became a major problem in 2005. The deciduous forests located in the province made it easy for the moths to eat and lay eggs in an ideal habitat, which is why the population was able to spike so unexpectedly. The moths don't have many ways of spreading, but the ones that they do have are very efficient. This is why they arrived in Ontario in the first place; they laid eggs on trees that could travel further than they could ever fly.
The spread in Ontario is controlled better than it is in quite a few states, but this is partially because of the colder climate making it difficult for them to adapt to. The harsh Canadian winters are one of the main reasons that the Gypsy Moth hasn't already reached other parts of Canada, and hopefully organizations will implement more measures to prevent this.