Low-traction barrier method and apparatus for preventing traverse of gypsy moth caterpillars and similar destructive crawlers.

摘要

A strip of slippery, compliant material (22) has low-traction characteristics with respect to gypsy moth caterpillars and thus initially arriving caterpillars do not become stuck on the barrier (10) and do not form "bridges" across the barrier (10) over which later arrivals can crawl. Self-adhering adhesive material (16) extends longitudinally on one surface of the strip (12) along at least one of its longitudinal margins (14, 14A), The strip (12) is wrapped around and is adhered to the trunk (20) of a tree to provide a barrier (10) for preventing gypsy moth caterpillars from traversing either up or down the tree trunk (20) by causing them to slip off of the barrier (10) and fall to the ground whenever they attempt to traverse it.