Gypsy Moth Eggs On Vehicle Wheels
Gypsy moths lay their eggs everywhere, even on the tires of cars and trucks. In this way they can be spread to wherever the car or truck goes.
The gypsy moths laid egg masses on the wheels of an SUV that was parked on the
driveway. As an experiment, I drove the SUV to a car wash that included an undercarriage wash. The eggs were
still on the wheel, even after going through the car wash and driving back home. Gypsy Moth egg masses are tough!.
Gypsy moth egg masses
on wheels
Eggs layed on the an wheels of SUV
We found that the gypsy moths had laid egg masses even on the tires and wheels of an SUV that was parked on the driveway. Egg masses were on the inside of the tires and wheels where it was difficult to reach them and remove them. In the picture on the right you can see the egg masses and some of the female gypsy moths that had laid them.
Note: They often lay their eggs on the inside of the wheels and tires, where you wouldn't even know they were there!
To see another and larger photo: click here
Gypsy moth egg masses on
wheels after driving
seven miles
After driving seven miles
I drove the SUV to a car wash that was seven miles away. I stopped and took another picture before entering the car wash. The female gypsy moths that had laid the eggs were gone, but not the egg masses.
Gypsy moth egg masses on
wheels after going through
carwash
After going through car wash
The SUV went through the car wash that included an under carriage wash. Some of the egg masses were still there even after the car wash.
Driving back another seven miles
Gypsy moth egg masses on
wheelsafter driving
back home
5I drove the SUV back home and parked in the same place on the driveway.
After driving 14 miles and going through a car wash with an undercarriage wash, most gypsy moth egg masses were still attached to the wheels.
I crawled under the SUV, scraped off the egg masses and destroyed them. They are tough.
This experiment shows that gypsy moths can be inadvertently transmitted throughout the country by cars and trucks.