Hyphantria cunea has many hosts, a broad distribution, caused serious economic damage, is difficult to control, and has seriously affected the development of forestry in China. Control of this pest mainly relies on a combination of chemical and biological methods, including the use of sex pheromones traps and monitoring population dynamics in combination with chemical and biological control. However, developing more sustainable and effective methods for controlling of H. cunea has always been a focus of research on this species. This paper reviews the current distribution of H. cunea in China, problems in the prevention and control of this pest, and progress in the application of ecological control. It also introduces new control technologies, such as genetically-modified sterile insect technology, RNAi and Bt transgenic insect-resistant tree species. Finally, it forecasts the future trends in the development of H. cunea control methods