Gypsy moths: What you need to know about this invasive species Julie Sherwood View Comments Volunteers scraped thousands of gypsy moth egg masses from trees during recent events sponsored by the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association. The CLWA estimated more than 22 million eggs were destroyed during Gypsy Moth Scout & Scrape-a-thons on Bare Hill in Middlesex, and Stid Hill and Gannett Hill in South Bristol. Hand-scraping of egg masses will make a small dent in what is projected to be another massive outbreak this year of the leaf-eating pest. A number of private property owners in the region as well as the town of Canandaigua have contracted for aerial spray of a targeted pesticide, Btk, a naturally occurring soil bacteria long used and deemed safe against gypsy moth caterpillars.