MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages the media to help spread the word about the current spongy moth outbreak and how the public can protect their trees.
Invasive spongy moth caterpillars, formerly known as gypsy moth, strip trees of their leaves, potentially killing high-value trees. They prefer to feed on oak, birch, crabapple, aspen and willow leaves but will also feed on many other tree and shrub species.
Property owners are encouraged to examine their trees and take action. Specifically:
- Visit the Wisconsin Spongy Moth Information Portal for information about managing spongy moth. Management options for the caterpillars include using burlap collection bands, physically destroying caterpillars and applying insecticide to protect trees and reduce nuisance caterpillar numbers.
- Learn how to use burlap collection bands. These are a non-pesticide option to help reduce populations when checked daily while large caterpillars are present.
- Insecticide treatments can be a suitable option for high-value host trees but are usually not practical for woodlots. Insecticide treatments are most effective when the caterpillars are small.
- Water yard trees weekly during dry periods to help reduce tree stress and aid a tree’s recovery from heavy leaf loss by the caterpillars.
- Wait to cut down any trees that have lost their leaves. Healthy hardwood trees usually produce a new set of leaves a few weeks later.
- Forest management may need to be postponed in forest stands with expansive leaf loss. Trees will be stressed from heavy leaf loss and often unable to handle the additional stress from forest thinning.
More information can be found in this previous news release.
Media are encouraged to use these images, Broll and burlap collection band video in their newscasts and content.