The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is preparing to begin aerial spraying of state woodlands to combat spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar, formerly known as the gypsy moth) populations it says are poised to spread across sections of the commonwealth this spring.
“Suppression efforts are underway as the caterpillars emerged and begun feeding,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “Aerial suppression is needed to keep this invasive pest in check and protect our native forests from defoliation, with oaks being one of its favorite hosts. Keeping our forests healthy is of paramount importance, to protect all of the values our forests provide, including recreation, habitat, timber, clean air and clean water.”
Two helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft will be used to help control the spread of the invasive species, with the state estimating that 227,820 acres will be treated, including 12 state forests, 18 state parks and one federal property. Most of the state parks on the list are located in central and western Pennsylvania. The federal property that will be sprayed is Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pike County, which is in the easternmost part of the state.
According to DCNR officials, in 2023, approximately 290,000 acres were treated to combat the maleficent moth’s spread. Despite that effort, last year “spongy moth defoliated 441,819 acres in Pennsylvania,” the news release said.
“These destructive, invasive insects go through cycles where outbreaks generally occur every 5 to 10 years,” DCNR Forest Health Manager Rosa Yoo said. “We are entering in our fourth year of the outbreak cycle, and egg mass surveys from last year determined the need for suppression efforts again this year. The good news is that we observed a decline in spongy moth defoliation from 850,000 acres in 2022 to 440,000 acres in 2023, signifying a decline in spongy moth populations and the importance of these suppression activities to help continue to reduce spongy moth populations.”
For more information about spongy moths and DCNR’s suppression program, visit the DCNR website.
This local news story was reported with generative AI assistance.
