Gypsy moth eggs, Hoffman

A new day. A new refuge. An old, depressing story. Now, of course, this isn't exactly always true, because usually, a new venue means new discoveries, and that's elating rather than a downer. But this afternoon found me exploring the Hoffman Evergreen Preserve to help two fine young naturalists get ready for a public walk they're leading this Saturday, and in the course of trekking, I noticed something awful as I told them the tale of Leopold Trouvelot and the start of the gypsy moth infestation around 150 years ago. I was showing them the field signs of the caterpillar plague that had taken a dramatic toll on the Gypsy Moth population when I realized that not all of the larval moths had been killed. Indeed, enough had made it to the pupation stage that now, as they finished metamorphosis, there were plenty of adult male Gypsies on the wing in search of the more sedentary females. Not only had some of the guys gotten lucky in their pursuit, but the fertilized ladies were already starting to lay egg clusters. While the effort will kill the females, it will also mean the possibility of another round of devastating defoliation next spring and summer. Just when things were looking good...