The spongy moth (formerly referred to as gypsy moth) periodically becomes a serious pest of woodland and shade trees. It was accidentally introduced to the United States in 1869 in Massachusetts. Repeated defoliation by the larvae or caterpillars can retard growth and stress trees resulting in increased susceptibility to two other pests, shoestring rot fungus and the two-lined chestnut borer.  The effects of either of these can kill trees.

The winter is passed in tan colored egg masses that contain from 300 to 500 eggs that usually hatch late-April to mid-May. The very young caterpillars often undergo airborne dispersal (ballooning) before settling down to feed. Up to the time they are about ¾ of an inch long they cause so little damage to foliage that they generally go unnoticed. This is unfortunate because the caterpillars are easiest to control with insecticides at and below this size. During light to moderate infestation the larvae generally feed at night and hide under bark, ground litter and other places during the day. During severe infestations, however, the caterpillars stay in the tops of trees and feed continuously. In their larval development females normally have six caterpillar stages and males, five.The full-grown caterpillars are 1 ½ to 2 inches long. Each body segment, except the first, bears a pair of hair tufts. The first five pairs behind the head are blue and last six are brick red. The full-grown caterpillars cause the bulk of the defoliation and are very difficult to control with insecticides. Spongy moth caterpillar feeding can create a mess as the leaf detritus and the slippery caterpillar droppings (frass) litter surfaces. Sweep areas or spray with a hose. The droppings can be safely used as fertilizer or composted.
 
The larvae complete their development between the third week in June and the middle of July, and crawl about seeking a protected place for pupation. The pupa is naked, but may have a few strands of silk wound loosely around it. The pupal cases may be observed attached to tree bark, stones, buildings, and other similar sites. 

Adult moths emerge from 10 to 14 days.The stout-bodied female is dirty white with faint brown markings, and the abdomen is covered with buff-covered hairs. The male is smaller and much darker in color with a small abdomen.The female is too heavy for flight: therefore, the eggs are laid near the place where she emerged from pupation. Eggs are deposited on trees, stones, buildings or other objects nearby. The adults usually live less than two weeks. There is only one generation per year.

Spongy moth caterpillars prefer to feed on the foliage of oak, white and gray birch, apple, willow, linden, basswood, hawthorn, sweet gum and aspen.  Older larvae will also feed freely on needled evergreens such as hemlock, white pine and varieties of spruce. The caterpillars often show a decided preference for the older and larger hemlock trees and the tops only of spruces, especially Colorado blue spruce.  A few larvae may mature on less favored trees such as black and yellow birch, cherry, elm and hickory.  Other less favored hosts include maple, horse chestnut, dogwood, beech, sassafras and witch hazel.  They least prefer and usually do not feed on ash, walnut, sycamore, honey locust, tulip, yellow poplar, holly, fir, rhododendron and mountain laurel.  Under severe outbreak conditions, however, the larvae will feed on most any plant. 

Two or more successive severe defoliations (75-100%) can lead to the death of oak, birch, poplar, willow, linden, apple and other hardwoods and pine, especially when trees are stressed as during periods of drought. A single defoliation may kill hemlocks. Deciduous trees may refoliate to some extent the same year, especially if the defoliation is severe and does not occur too late in the season. Refoliated trees will be out of sync with their normal cycles, will have depleted food reserves, and may produce fewer leaves the following year. Defoliated trees will not heal as quickly from wounds so avoid pruning.

Defoliated/refoliating trees should receive 1-2" of water per week including rainfall as the higher temperatures and increased sunlight of summer can scorch new growth. Continue to provide adeqaute water up until a hard frost. Do not fertilize during this period but wait until after leaf-fall (but before October 15) or in the spring before budbreak. Tress that receive fertilizer during the summer will produce new growth that will not harden off before the winter and will be susceptible to winter damage. A 10-10-10 or 10-6-4 fertilzer should be applied at the rate of 1-2 lbs. per 100 square feet. See our fact sheet Tree, Shrub, Groundcover, and Vine Fertilization for additional info.

Although a number of parasites, predators and diseases attack various stages of the spongy moth, they do not control it in outbreak situations.  They help, however, in keeping certain sparse populations at low levels and assist in extending the period between outbreaks. The major reason for the end of spongy moth outbreaks is a combination of starvation and disease.  Following at least two or three years of severe defoliation, populations increase to tremendous numbers.  The stresses of crowding and especially starvation, after all available food is eaten, increase the susceptibility of the caterpillars to a virus wilt disease which can cause a rapid and dramatic crash in the population. A naturally occurring fungus known as Entomophaga maimaiga, will kill the spongy moth larva. During wet springs this killing fungus keeps the population of spongy moths low. Dry weather during May suppresses the fungus. 

Traps baited with the female sex attractant are useful in monitoring for the presence and abundance of male moths.  Traps put up by individuals have no value as a control measure, but will alert you to the adult moth’s presence in the area and the present stage of life at that time.

Collecting and treating egg masses may be useful in small populations but most are deposited in places that are inaccessible and/or hidden from view and thus go untreated.  In addition, ballooning larvae can re-infest areas after egg masses have been treated.  However, commercial products containing insecticidal soap, mineral oil, or soybean oil can be used to treat egg masses. Read the label for use directions and precautions.  Egg masses scraped from trees and other objects should be collected and destroyed.

Chemical control is difficult for the individual property owner because so many trees are too tall to be sprayed efficiently with home equipment. One spray application will not provide season-long control but one properly timed application can prevent severe defoliation in most cases. Two applications spaced about 7 to 10 days apart should be used where the least defoliation is desired. The best time to spray is about May 20 when most airborne dispersal is over. Since caterpillars become increasingly more difficult to kill as they increase in size, sprays should be applied as close to the recommended date as possible for good control. Repeat treatments may be required, especially if more than a half inch of rain falls a day to two after application.

As of the date of this publication one microbial and a few chemical insecticides are available to property owners.  Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (BtK) the microbial insecticide, causes the death of the caterpillar when the bacteria are ingested. It is harmless to humans, animals, wildlife, beneficial insects and plants. However, it is effective only against young caterpillars. Therefore, for best results, it must be applied before June 1; results after this date are erratic. 

An arborist that is licensed with the State of CT should be considered if chemical control is warranted as most applications will need to be made at heights that homeowners can't reach.