This page has been archived
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or record-keeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.
May 17, 2017 – Ottawa, ON
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated the regulated zones for Lymantria dispar following the 2016 survey results in order to slow the spread of this invasive insect.
The following areas have been added to the list of regulated zones for LDD moth:
- Nova Scotia
- Cape Breton County
- Prince Edward Island
- Prince County
- Queens County
- Ontario
- Sudbury District
- Greater Sudbury Division
- Quebec
- Kamouraska Region
The larvae of LDD moths feed on tree leaves and can harm forests by completely stripping all leaves from a tree when their population grows too large. Larvae will feed on a tree's leaves for years, weakening the trees, making them susceptible to other diseases, and sometimes killing them.
How to recognize these moths
Female moths are mainly white with dark crescent marks on the front wing, and male moths are mainly dark brown with similar markings. Egg masses are commonly laid on tree bark, branches, and other protected places, for example, rock piles, lawn furniture, bird houses, wood piles, under logs, and under recreational vehicles or equipment.
What to do
If you are in a regulated zone, do not move, import or export items that are or could be infested with LDD moth from the area. These items include military, recreational or personal vehicles and equipment, nursery stock, Christmas trees, or other forest products with bark attached. More information is available in Directive D-98-09: Comprehensive policy to control the spread of LDD moth, Lymantria dispar, in Canada and the United States.
If you have spotted LDD moth outside of the regulated area, please contact the CFIA.