Each year, the destructive gypsy moth attempts a move into Washington state — and each year State Department of Agriculture workers stop them.

Bright green or orange cardboard traps are set throughout the state. More than 400 traps for gypsy moths are hanging in Federal Way. The traps contain a pheromone to attract male gypsy moths, who can detect the scent up to a mile away.

“They think it’s a female moth,” said Mychal Hendrickson, a Department of Agriculture worker who was checking traps in Federal Way last week.

The inside of the traps are coated with a sticky substance to capture the moths. The traps are checked for moths every two weeks.

“We’re trying to make it so they don’t take over. They destroy the trees,” Hendrickson said.

Locally, an area near the intersection of 298th Street South and 33rd Avenue South is an area of extra emphasis because three gypsy moths were found there two years ago. An egg nest or evidence of further infestation was never found. If no more gypsy moths are found in northeast Federal Way this year, the area will be taken off the extra emphasis list.

Agriculture workers are looking for both European gypsy moths and the more destructive Asian gypsy moth.

In its caterpillar form, gypsy moths feed on and kill more than 500 species of trees and shrubs.

The moth is now permanently established in 19 eastern and upper Midwest states. Last year, gypsy moths defoliated more than a million acres of trees in those areas.

Several moths have been caught in Washington state since the program began in the 1970s, but they have been quickly eradicated.

An infestation in Washington state could be devastating to the commercial timber, recreation and tourism industries. Tree loss could affect wildlife habitats and watersheds.

“If it got out of hand and a spray wouldn’t take care of it, then it wouldn’t be a good thing,” said agriculture technician Tracy Shirek. “They could totally strip everything and eventually it would affect our lumber market, our paper market. They would be taking away what our state thrives on — the timber industry.”

Shirek said the best way for the public to help in the battle against the gypsy moth is to leave the traps alone and not remove them.

Contact Margo Hoffman: mhoffman@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.

For more information on Washington’s gypsy moth control program, call the gypsy moth hotline at (800) 443-6684.