A well-known invasive pest has a new name but brings the same old challenges for oak, birch, and many other trees. Michigan State University (MSU) revamped its website to help Michiganders deal with the spongy moth (formerly known as gypsy moth) and its destructive caterpillars.
The MSU spongy moth site can be found at https://bit.ly/3lIThuv.
The season for spongy moths is underway with caterpillars starting to hatch this month. They can defoliate oaks and other trees for a six- to eight-week period.
"We've had many calls from many people in the previous season who want to know more about spongy moths," said James Wieferich, forest health specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. "This MSU website is the perfect spot to answer most of their questions and give people experiencing an outbreak on their property some options on how to reduce the nuisance."
Michigan also provides information about spongy moth at https://bit.ly/3lL9waM.
Categories: Michigan, Education