Moving outdoor gear and firewood without carrying pests

Spongy moth egg masses stick to patio chairs, grills, bikes and anything else left outside, and invasive insects hide in firewood. Most of these insects only travel a few miles on their own, but they can ride hundreds of miles on a load of firewood or yard gear. When you move out of a spongy moth quarantine area, inspect your outdoor household items before they go on the truck.

What you need

• A putty knife or stiff brush
• A bucket of hot, soapy water, or plastic bags
• The self-inspection checklist (PPQ Form 377), on the back of the spongy moth moving flyer
• A tarp, if the inspection can't wait until moving day

Steps

1. 1

   Find out if you're in a quarantine area

   Look up your address on the U.S. map at YourMoveSpongyMothFree.com. If you don't live in a quarantine area, you can skip the inspection.

   5 min

2. 2

   Plan when to inspect

   Between April and August, do the inspection on moving day if you can. If you can't, protect the items until then by sealing them under a tarp or keeping them indoors or in a closed moving truck.

   5 min

3. 3

   Inspect everything that was outside

   Check every surface and crevice of patio furniture, lawn equipment, grills, toys, bikes, trailers, boats and vehicles. The checklist also names items such as ladders, doormats, trash cans, empty plant containers, swing sets, sleds, stored snow tires and house plants that spent the summer outdoors.

   40 min

4. 4

   Scrape off any egg masses

   Remove each egg mass with a putty knife, stiff brush or similar hand tool. Drop egg masses and any caterpillars or pupae into hot, soapy water, or seal them in a plastic bag and set it in the sun.

   10 min

5. 5

   Leave the firewood behind

   Many insect pests survive in firewood, some for more than three years. Use it up or give it away before the move, and buy firewood near the new house. If wood has to move, move only firewood that's certified, treated and labeled by USDA or a state.

   5 min

6. 6

   Put the signed checklist in the moving vehicle

   Tick each item as you go, sign the form and keep a copy in the vehicle carrying your things, in case a USDA or state official asks for it. If you aren't driving, give a copy to the driver. Afterward, keep it with your moving papers for at least 5 years.

   5 min

If someone else does the inspection

A qualified certified applicator can inspect your outdoor household items instead. Get a copy of the completed, signed checklist from them, and keep it in the vehicle during the move the same way.