The hunt is on in Bellevue and elsewhere in King County for Asian gypsy moth.

Small small, tent-shaped cardboard traps have been placed at the intersection of Lakemont Blvd. S.E. and Village Park Drive to identify any new introductions of the destructive pest.

The traps are being checked every two to three weeks this summer, and will be taken down in September.

If multiple catches are made in an area over two years or other evidence of gypsy moth activity is noted, an eradication treatment in the area may occur the following spring.

The gypsy moth is one of the worst forest pests ever brought to the U.S. In its caterpillar form, the pest attacks more than 500 species of trees and shrubs, causing millions of dollars of environmental and economic damage across the country each year.

In King County, a total of 5,500 traps are being placed to check on the moths.

Tracy Shirek, trapping coordinator for King County, is confident her trappers will spot any new introductions.

“We’re working hard,” Shirek said. “We want to identify infestations when they’re small and then eradicate them. We want to keep Washington the Evergreen State.”

The moth is now permanently established in 19 states in the east and upper Midwest. Last summer alone, gypsy moth larvae defoliated more than a million acres of trees.