Township
of
Livingston,
NJ
357
South Livingston Ave.
Livingston, NJ 07039-3994
Phone (973) 992-5000
Fax (973) 535-7967
Residents Asked to Provide Gypsy Moth Data by Early September
Livingston homeowners are asked to alert the township to suspected gypsy moth infestations.
According to the Homeowner’s Guide to Gypsy Moth Management, an egg mass is a creamy beige color with a velvety appearance, and is approximately 1 ½ inches long and ¾ -inch wide; it resembles a small piece of camel hair sweater.
When doing a survey it is important to distinguish between new and old egg masses. They are most easily distinguished by the way they feel to the touch. Old egg masses feel soft and spongy, whereas new egg masses feel hard and firm.
In the fall, inspectors from the Department of Agriculture will inspect locations based upon complaints of gypsy moth damage. The inspectors will look for and count gypsy moth egg masses. Homeowners can play an active role in this process by filing a written complaint about the location of these gypsy moth infestations within the municipality by early September. These complaints can be emailed to townclerk@livingstonnj.org or mailed to the Clerk’s office at 204 Hillside Ave. or phoned in to (973) 992-5000. Residents can follow up this letter with another request in late December to determine if your area was indeed included in a spray block and if your municipality is participating in the cooperative program.
In order for the Township to participate in the Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative Gypsy Moth Suppression Program next spring, the Township must first request an egg mass survey this year, which it has done. This is done to determine if the infestation will continue and what areas qualify for the spray program. If the residential forest has as average of more than 500 egg masses per acre, and is at least 50 acres in size, it may qualify for participation in the cooperative gypsy moth suppression program. Municipal participation in the aerial spray program is completely voluntary.