U.S. customs agents find Asian gypsy moth eggs on vessel from Japan

Wow, homeland security. Must be very busy these days.

If i recall right they had an infestation of this critter in NZ a few years ago and it is very difficult to iradicate, no country needs this pest to get established.

We had a real invasion of those 2 years ago. Eggs were everywhere and it took me a long time to destroy then all. They really spread fast, a good thing they were discovered in time in the US.

We already have a Gypsy Moth infestation on the East Coast of the U.S. People used to wrap some Saran Wrap in a band around their tree trunks and slather axel greas on the Saran wrap to act as a gypsy moth caterpillar trap. There's a nice animated .GIF graphic showing the ongoing infestation:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e3/Gypsy_moth_spread_1900-2007.gif

It's very good that these were caught before they could make landfall - they're seriously nasty. Tenacious, ugly and truly (no quotes) voracious, they were the bane of my teenage summers in Pennsylvania.

I would be more worried about what is floating hither in the sea currents.

I would be more worried about what is floating hither in the sea currents.

Unless what's "floating hither in the sea currents" is another ship carrying Gypsy Moth eggs, it has nothing to do with this article.

@JapanGal Wow, homeland security. Must be very busy these days.

They are, but these agricultural inspections have been occuring for decades, especially on the west coast of the US. That area produces a large portion of the crops in the US and an infection would be disastrous so yes they really are, and should be, paranoid.

they could be from Mothra - masura! but Mothra was good. Arigatou Japan! : )