Caring for Your Trees
Spongy Moth/Gypsy Moth Season is upon us.
Since April is when spongy/gypsy moths begin to hatch, here are some steps homeowners can take:
Scraping - Any egg masses can be scraped into a bucket with soapy water or detergent, buried, or burnt. Keeping an active lookout for new masses and removing them will prevent extreme defoliation.
Banding - In late April, sticky/barrier bands may be placed around the tree's trunk to catch caterpillars when they hatch and crawl. These bands can be bought or made at home using common household materials. Detailed instructions on how to make one can be found online. If you choose to use a barrier band, please check it often in case unintended wildlife pass through, and replace as necessary after rain events. In mid-June when caterpillars are larger, replace sticky/barrier bands with a burlap trap.
Horticultural oil insecticides (aka dormant oils) - These solutions are refined from petroleum or plants and, when applied, smother insects or disrupt the protective coating around eggs. As with chemical insecticides, horticultural oils are non-selective but have the advantage of being relatively safe for humans and animals. The oils should be applied to egg masses in late March to early April before caterpillars emerge, and again in October to early November after adults have ceased activity.
Microbial and biological pesticides - This category of insecticides is most effective on small, young caterpillars, and must be ingested to be effective. Caterpillars become more resistant to microbial pesticides as they mature, so these pesticides are most effective when caterpillars are less than one inch long - Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is one example of a microbial pesticide.
Caring for your trees -For defoliated trees, not having enough water is a serious issue. Make sure trees remain hydrated by running a hose at the base of the tree or setting up a sprinkler. Even though hardwood trees that have been completely defoliated may look dead, these trees have the ability to re-flush and grow new leaf buds which provide enough energy for the tree to survive.
More information can be found on both the Department of Environmental Conservation and US Forest Service websites.