JEFFERSON CITY, MO. ? A check of your belongings for gypsy moth eggs can prevent your dream vacation from turning into a nightmare for Missouri forests.

Inadvertent importation of gypsy moth eggs could enable the insects to become established here 20 to 30 years sooner than they might on their own, said state entomologist Robert Lawrence.

“When foresters began tracking the westward expansion of gypsy moths, they estimated that Missouri would become part of their range in about the year 2015,” Lawrence said. “A population control effort in infested areas called ‘Slow the Spread’ has been quite successful in reducing the speed at which gypsy moths are expanding their range. It might delay the arrival of gypsy moths in Missouri until 2030.”

Gypsy moths were introduced into the United States in 1869 near Boston to crossbreed with silkworms.

Since that time, the gypsy moth has been slowly moving west, where sizable infestations have caused severe forest damage and become nuisances for area residents.

The dominance of oak trees in Missouri makes the Show-Me State particularly vulnerable to gypsy moths. Oaks are among the gypsy moth caterpillar’s favorite foods.

When gypsy moths become established in new areas, their numbers increase enormously, and damage to trees often is severe.

The Missouri Department of Conservation asks travelers to Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and the Northeast to inspect all items that have been outdoors before they return to the state.