Relief from Spongy Moth Irritation and Destruction on its Way

Spongy moth’s introduction to the United States can be compared to buying your child a 1000-piece LEGO set, it seems like a good idea until you are pulling embedded, primary-colored bricks from the bottoms of your feet at 3 a.m.

Originally transported from France in 1869, spongy moth (previously known as gypsy moth) were set to revolutionize the U.S. silk industry by breeding with silkworms to create a hardier version of the worm—instead, many escaped from the home and lab of Massachusetts-based, amateur entomologist Etienne Trouvelot and began making their presence known by feeding on the young leaves of deciduous trees.

Summer 2021 saw elevated populations of spongy moth in many regions of New York State, and 2022 looks to be another banner year for the cyclical pest. While most trees will survive these infestations, many New Yorkers are suffering from another effect of the invasive spongy moth. The tiny hairs (setae) of spongy moth caterpillars carry histamines that can cause an itchy, red rash in some individuals. Fortunately, those caterpillars will turn into pupae in late June and early July, effectively ending both the feeding and skin irritation for this season.

And next year will likely not be as bad, because as numbers peak, natural diseases of the caterpillar buildup, causing populations to collapse. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•