Rosovsky also highlighted that spongy moths can easily travel to new places through human-assisted movement and start infestations in previously untouched areas. More areas of Vermont are becoming affected by the spongy moth. It also advises putting the caterpillars and eggs into a container of soapy water or alcohol to kill them.Īerial spraying and chemical controls are also options for those with large infested areas.Ĭurrently, the state does take active control measures but offers education and outreach for those impacted by the spongy moths. Vermont Invasives - an online resource developed by the University of Vermont Extension the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and the Vermont Chapter of the Nature Conservancy - recommends trapping the caterpillars with burlap during the defoliation stage and scraping the egg masses off of trees in the fall. “If we continue to get a lot of dry weather, we're going to see a reduction in the fungal population,” she said.īut as more areas become affected by the spongy moth, Vermonters often look for at-home solutions to stop the mass defoliation. Rosovsky identifies climate change as a major indicator to the future of spongy moths.
This spring, the state had a much more wet spring than in previous years, which helped the fungus control the number of caterpillars. Vermont has faced a dry season every year since 2016, said Rosovsky. According to the Department of Forests, when an environment has more moisture, the spongy moth’s natural predator, the fungus Entomophaga maimaiga, can grow more effectively to maintain the caterpillar population. The lack of drought conditions is the most notable return. The crawlers’ higher death rate can be attributed to the return of their “natural enemies,” said Rosovsky.
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