Environmental Stewardship

How to Identify LDD

The Gypsy Moth has four distinct development stages similar to other butterflies and moths.

Stages of the LDD Life Cycle

Eggs Mass: (Late August - Early May):

• Tan-coloured and can be found on tree trunks, bark, or other hard surfaces.
• One egg mass can contain 100-1,000 eggs.
• Egg masses can be between 2-6cm in size
• Spongy egg masses can be observed on the trunks and branches of infected trees.
• Easiest stage to manage

Caterpillar (larvae): May - July

• Greyish brown and hairy with two rows of five blue and six red dots on its back.
• Mature caterpillars can be as long as 6.35 cm (2.5 inches)
• The caterpillar is easily recognizable in the later part of this stage
• Caterpillars can be found feeding on the leaves of trees.

This development stage causes defoliation and damages the tree.

Cocoon/ Pupa: (Mid July - Early August)

• This development stage lasts between 10-14 days
• Once the adult emerges from the cocoon it leaves the empty cocoon behind which is often seen on infested trees.

Moth: (Late July - late August)

• Development stage lasts 10 days
• Adult females are larger than males with white colouring.
• Females do not fly whereas males can fly.
• Adult males are smaller and greyish- brown.

*infographic courtesy of York Region

Should I be concerned?

LDD are a concern because the larvae feed voraciously, mostly on the leaves of deciduous (leafy) trees, but also on some conifers (evergreens). During the larval stage, a single LDD caterpillar can eat an average of one square metre of leaves.

Most healthy trees can withstand one to several years of defoliation by LDD as healthy trees are able to regrow their leaves during the same growing season within two to three weeks. The LDD moth population generally surges every 7 to 10 years and the increase usually lasts for 1 to 3 years. 

Call a tree care expert to have the trees on your property assessed.

What is King Township doing?

Staff are monitoring each stage throughout the municipality and encouraging residents to report sightings. During the Spring, the Environmental Stewardship Coordinator works closely with the Parks & Forestry Division to conduct egg mass removal to minimize damage to trees situated on Township property. Specifically, street trees that exhibit LDD infestations will be targeted throughout the winter and early spring when most manageable. Staff removed egg masses on small to medium sized trees by manually scrapping and vacuuming egg masses from trees.  Conducting egg mass removal helps reduce the number of hatched caterpillars in the spring. Focusing on the severely impacted areas will help reduce the spread of LDD throughout the communities. The Township will continue to work with York Region and local municipalities on best practises in managing LDD in our community.

What Can Residents Do?

Trees on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. You are encouraged to monitor the trees on your property and take action to remove gypsy moths as often as possible. There are a number of actions you can take to help reduce gypsy moth populations on your property. Each control method has an ideal timing window that corresponds with the LDD’s life cycle stage and time of year.

Report a Sighting

Residents are encouraged to report a sighting using EDDMaps. If you think you’ve seen LDD, report your sighting to 1-800-563-7711, www.eddmaps.org/Ontario (Ontario), or www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/report-a-sighting (Canada-wide). Reporting invasive species helps us to better understand current distribution and long-term trends.

Or Email environmentalstewardship@king.ca

Manual Egg Mass Removal

It is important to be thorough when looking for egg masses as they can be difficult to locate. Common hiding places include the underside of branches, tree trunks, fences, firewood, outdoor furniture, swing sets, trails and under the eaves of buildings. When an egg mass is found, it should be scraped off with a knife, paint scraper or steel brush and placed into a bucket filled with hot water and household bleach or soap and hot water.  Leave the egg masses in the bucket for 2-3 days before disposing in the garbage. Wear safety glasses and gloves when removing egg masses. Remove picnic tables, swing sets and lawn furniture from around the bases of the trees because these objects provide the insect with protection from the heat of the sun.

Watering

To help prevent infestation, water your tree regularly to promote tree health, especially during the hottest days of summer. Trees that have lost their leaves should be watered regularly to promote leaf growth. Extensive watering should occur in the mornings and evenings during the hot summer months when natural precipitation is low, trees are stressed and most caterpillars are in their cocoon stage.

Burlap Banding

By mid-June, LDD caterpillars will be approximately an inch in length and will begin to move down the trunk to seek shelter from predators and heat. Making a burlap band trap will make it easier to collect the LDD caterpillars from your tree. Wrap and secure a piece of burlap cloth around the tree trunk and tie rope around the top of the burlap to secure the burlap in place. Drape the burlap cloth over the rope to create an overhang where the caterpillars can crawl underneath to seek shelter in the day from the heat.  Check the trap by lifting the overhanging burlap cloth every afternoon before they crawl back to the canopy to feed. Caterpillars can be removed and placed in a bucket of soapy water for a day or two before disposing of them.

*Avoid direct skin contact with LDD caterpillars. When removing caterpillars wear gloves and safety glasses to avoid a potential rash.

Insecticide Application

Residents can consider applying insecticide such as BTK or Tree Azin on their private property trees. It is important to apply the application during the correct timing window in order for the application to be successful. We recommend contacting a licensed tree care company to learn about your options to manage LDD.

Pheromone Traps

During the moth stage, it is important to reduce the number of eggs that are laid for the next season. Pheromone traps are a nontoxic measure used to reduce and help control the spread of LDD.  Since the female LDD does not fly, the female releases a pheromone to attract the flying male LDD for the purpose of mating. Placing pheromone traps in strategic locations can help reduce the number of males that are able to find females. Pheromone traps can be purchased from local garden centres and nurseries.

Call a Tree Care Expert

In the event that managing populations becomes unfeasible through the methods described, seek a professional tree care company for assistance.

Use of the Name Lymantria dispar dispar

Lymantria dispar dispar is more commonly known as gypsy moth.  Use of the name Gypsy Moth could be perceived as culturally insensitive. Alongside York Region, the Township of King will educate and build awareness for replacing the name Gypsy Moth by introducing the Latin name Lymantria dispar dispar (LDD). 

• To learn more about the LDD click here
• Province of Ontario’s webpage on LDD  https://www.ontario.ca/page/gypsy-moth
• To learn more about what York Region is doing to manage Lymantria dispar dispar (LDD) click here

LDD Fact Sheet (English)    

LDD Fact Sheet (French)

King Community Clean Up

Get outside and celebrate Earth Week! Take part in the King Community Clean Up. Do you part and help clean up our parks, streets, ditches and neighbourhoods. Register your clean up location today and pick up your clean up supplies at the following locations during Earth Week.

Date: Saturday, April 24^th 

Clean Up Supply Kit Pick Up Locations:  

King Township Municipal Centre: Friday, April 23 9:00am- 10:00am

Trisan Centre: Friday, April 23 12:00pm-1:00pm

Nobleton Arena: Friday, April 23 1:30pm-2:30pm

Cold Creek Conservation Area Visitors Centre: April 23 & April 24 9:00am-11:00am

Registration:

To register your clean up location and arrange a pick up date or for more information contact environmentalstewardship@king.ca or call 905-833-6555

Community Electronic Recycling

Do you have old electronics collecting dust at home? Bring your unwanted electronics to the Community Electronic Recycling to ensure they are disposed of safely, recycled and kept out of landfill. Residents will be required to unload their own items. 

Date: Saturday, May 29^th

Location: Parks Depot, Schomberg

Time: 9:00am- 12:00pm

Fee: Free

For more information contact environmentalstewardship@king.ca or call 905-833-6555.

Accepted Items include: televisions, monitors, desk tops, phones, printing, copying and scanning equipment, stereos, speakers, digital media, video game consoles, projectors, microphones, cameras, calculators, lighting, power tools, small appliances, stationary and portable audio/video systems

For a complete list of environmental programs, workshops and events please visit the Community Recreation Guide. 

In an effort to divert textiles currently going to the landfill in Township of King, we are proud to launch a textile diversion program in partnership with Diabetes Canada.  The Township of King textile donation bins are conveniently located at community facilities providing secure, 24/7 access for the donations of all used textiles.   Since March 2017, King has diverted 198, 941 lbs of textiles from landfill sites.

2020 Community Textile Diversion Impacts

   297.824 T/ CO₂E abated

   49.30 kl water saved

  13,678.97 trees planted

  64.74 cars removed

Donate your textiles at one of the following locations:

• Dr. William Laceby Nobleton Community Centre & Arena - 15 Old King Road, Nobleton
• King City Lions Arena - 25 Doctors Lane, King City
• King Township Municipal Centre - 2585 King Road, King City
• Trisan Centre - 25 Dillane Drive, Schomberg

Take advantage of the Township's free battery recycling program!

All batteries are sorted by type (alkaline, lithium, etc.) and recycled for their respective elements (metal, zinc, manganese, etc.). All standard single-use batteries are accepted, including AA, D, 9V, button cell, etc.  Rechargeable batteries are not currently accepted.

Batteries contain heavy metals and other toxic chemicals, which mean they have traditionally been handled as toxic waste.  Recycling these materials allows them to be reused or disposed of properly, which keeps them out of landfill. The Township's new battery recycling bins allow you to conveniently dispose of your used batteries, while doing your part to help protect our environment.

For safety purposes, please place leaking batteries in a sealed plastic bag, and cover the terminals of lithium batteries with tape before dropping them off in the bins.

Locations:

• Dr. William Laceby Nobleton Community Centre & Arena - 15 Old King Road, Nobleton
• King Township Municipal Centre - 2585 King Road, King City
• Trisan Centre - 25 Dillane Drive, Schomberg

Attention all Community Groups! Make your next event environmentally friendly by using compostable food service items that you can purchase through the Township of King at a 25% discount.

To place an order, fill out the Green Shift Order Form below and submit to kmclellan@king.ca

Green Shift Order Form

King Township is the Ninth Bee City in Canada!

The goal of the Bee City Canada certification is to provide and promote healthy, sustainable habitats for bees and other pollinator species. Bees and other pollinators around the globe have experienced declines due to a combination of environmental factors that have serious implications for the future health of flora and fauna. Bee City Canada encourages municipalities and their residents to support bees and other pollinators on both public and private land by fostering environmental awareness around this issue.

The Township of King is commitment to helping pollinators! King Township is enhancing existing and creating new habitats for pollinators in parks, gardens and naturalized areas.  Designating the Township of King as a Bee City will demonstrate the Township's commitment towards increasing pollinator awareness, protection and conservation. Becoming recognized as a Bee City will further contribute to the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. Bee City Certification will reinforce the goals of the King's Integrated Community Sustainability Plan by fostering community engagement and education and supporting healthy ecosystems and food sources.

Bee City Resolution Bee City Application

Visit Bee City Canada for more information on our accreditation and to see what other municipalities are doing to support bees! 

September 2018, King took the Mayors' Monarch Pledge and committed to creating habitat for the monarch butterfly and pollinators, and to educate citizens about how they can make a difference at home and in their community. Through the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, more than 300 communities have committed to create monarch habitat and engage their residents in educational and conservation projects. Participating municipalities are required to complete a minimum of three actions annually from the National Wildlife Federations list of 24 actions for municipalities.

The Township has committed to implement or continue to implement the following 11 initiatives:

1. Issue a Resolution to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat
2. Launch a public communication effort to encourage citizens to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighbourhoods
3. Communicate with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants 
4. Host or support a native plant sale or milkweed seed giveaway event
5. Facilitate or support milkweed seed collection and propagation efforts
6. Plant a monarch-friendly demonstration garden at the Municipal Office or another prominent location
7. Initiate or support citizen-science efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health
8. Add milkweed and nectar producing plants in community gardens 
9. Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats
10. Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage the use of milkweed where appropriate
11. Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the Township’s Sustainability Plan

Mayors' Monarch Pledge Resolution 

Mayors' Monarch Pledge Report to Council

To learn more about the Mayors' Monarch Pledge visit The National Wildlife Federation. 

There are some plants you should avoid planting in your yard or garden because they can take over, out compete native plants and spread to other areas.  Invasive plants are non-native species that displace naturally occurring plants and can completely alter an ecosystem.  Invasive vegetation poses a variety of threats to the natural environment such as the degradation of natural areas, reduced forest productivity and species richness, and adverse impacts on recreation and esthetics. Instead, consider planting native vegetation. Native plants are well adjusted to local climate, require less water and maintenance.  Growing native plants and trees on your property will enhance biodiversity, support pollinators, and reduce invasive species. Planting native is beneficial to local wildlife and pollinator species providing food and habitat.

Click here to view the Invasive Forest Pest & Disease Quick Reference Guide for more information.

Get Involved

Residents can help map the distribution of invasive species present throughout the municipality. Sightings of terrestrial invasive plants growing within King Township can be mapped using King Mapping Software. By reporting sightings staff can identify what plants are present within King, the location of the species, control methods and the severity of the infestation. Mapping the distribution of invasive species will help Township staff monitor and mitigate the spread of invasive plants throughout the municipality. Mapping the distribution of terrestrial invasive plant species can be conducted on all property types including municipal lands, conservation lands, natural areas, green spaces and residential properties.

Helpful Resources

More information can be found at the links below about invasive species and proper management:

• https://www.eddmaps.org/species/
• https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/invasive-plants/species/
• A Guide for Southern Ontario: Grow Me Instead

• Track the Spread of Invasive Plants 

• Track the Spread of Invasive Phragmites

View full screen

Easy Steps to Save Seeds

Once your plants are mature, save the seeds! Return the seeds you save to the seed library where you will fill out a donation form with all the necessary information about the seeds. Once we have collected a variety of seeds our goal is to launch a Community Seed Library. By borrowing, growing, and returning seeds, you're helping to ensure that our community has access to an affordable, diverse seed collection.

Gather Seeds

• If you are collecting and saving seeds from your own plants, spread the seeds on newspaper and air-dry them for roughly a week
• Write seed names on the newspaper so that there's no mix up as to what the seeds are
• Once the seeds are all dried, pack them into small paper packets or envelopes and label them with the plant name, the date and location of harvest! (Most seeds last for three years)

Keep Seeds Dry

• To help keep the seeds dry, place rice grains inside the storage container with the seed packets
• You can also add a packet of silica gel in with the seeds. Replace every six months

Where & How to Store

• Keep seed packets in plastic food storage bags, plastic film canisters, mason jars with tight lids or paper envelopes
• Once you have gotten your storing container, think dry and cool no matter where you store the seeds
• Because humidity and warmth shorten a seed's shelf life, the refrigerator is generally the best place to store seeds, but make sure to keep the seed-storage containers well away from the freezer section of the refrigerator

Ready to Go

• When you're ready to plant, remove seed containers from the refrigerator and keep them closed until the seeds warm to room temperature. Otherwise, moisture in the air will condense on the seeds, causing them to clump and stick together
• It is important to remember that even if you are very organized and careful about storing seeds, accept the fact the some will not germinate the following year

Seed Donation Locations

Return the seeds you save to the seed library where you will fill out a donation form with all the necessary information about the seeds.

• Schomberg Library (77 Main Street, Schomberg, ON L0G1T0)
• King Township Municipal Centre (2585 King Road, King City, ON L7B 1A1) ask to speak with Environmental Stewardship Coordinator

Additional Resources

• How to Save Tomato Seeds
• How to Save Lettuce Seeds
• How to Save Bean & Pea Seeds