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Sportsman Outdoors

Spongy moth infestation

Jack Danchak
Posted 5/13/22

Spongy moth, previously known by the common name of gypsy moth. The name was changed by the Entomological Society of America during the month of March this year.

The spongy moth has already …

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Sportsman Outdoors

Spongy moth infestation

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Spongy moth, previously known by the common name of gypsy moth. The name was changed by the Entomological Society of America during the month of March this year.

The spongy moth has already started to appear in New York and Pennsylvania. It was reported that last year was a boom year for the spongy moth caterpillar populations. Egg masses contain 600-700 eggs each and usually will hatch in May or June.

If you find them now, you can scrape them off trees or buildings and drop them into a container of detergent to prevent the eggs from hatching.

Spongy moths are non-native. Infestations can last for two or three years and tend to spike in numbers every 10-15 years. Outbreaks are usually ended by natural causes such as predators and disease.

Another option for dealing with these moths before an infestation is to put barriers around the trunks of trees, especially oak and apple trees.

In an effort to protect wildlife habitat, the Pennsylvania Game Commission plans to spray by airplane more than 62,000 acres of state game lands.

Oak and apple trees are the main targets of spongy moths. These trees provide the best and most reliable foods for wildlife. Oak trees provide acorns and apple trees of course provide apples.

The PA Game Commission has allocated over $1,236,000 from its Pittman-Robertson Federal Grant funding to cover the costs of the effort.

The insecticide to be used is called Mimic 2LV, it is generally considered safe to humans. The forests to be treated in the coming weeks have building populations of spongy moths that, left untreated, could cause severe defoliation this summer.

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