The Sconi

Spongy Moths: What to Expect in 2023

Spongy moth (formerly known as gypsy moth) populations increased dramatically in 2022 causing many home and property owners concern about their trees. You may have noticed the spongy moth caterpillars crawling over everything last year, especially in May and June. These caterpillars have distinctive red and blue dots on their backs, long hairs, and are voracious eaters, eating the leaves of many trees. The caterpillars cause the most damage to trees and are the biggest nuisance to people. Come July, they form cocoons, pupate, turn into adult moths, lay eggs and die. Those eggs overwinter and soon enough, those caterpillars will be hatching again, to eat and eat and eat!

What can we expect this year? Join UW-Extension for a free webinar to find out! On March 8, 2023, at 6 p.m.,Mike Hillstrom, Forest Health Specialist from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and PJ Liesch, Entomologist and Director of the University of Wisconsin Insect Diagnostic Lab, will discuss spongy moths and what to expect in 2023. You will learn where spongy moth defoliation occurred and a variety of management options to reduce damage from spongy moths for urban, wooded residential and forest landowners.

This is a free webinar, but registration is required. Please visit go.wisc.edu/97xqoy to register! The webinar will be recorded for later viewing.

You can also learn more about spongy moths and what you should do at the following website: https://go.wisc.edu/kz1yc1

If you have questions about this webinar, please contact Julie Hill, Horticulture Outreach Specialist at julie.hill@wisc.edu or by calling the UW-Extension Walworth County office at 262-741-4958.

Original source can be found here.