Spongy Moth
Task Force Members
County Personnel
Jeremy Sobecki Parks
Nicole Messacar MS4
Amanda Lahners Health Department
Michael Herrman Soil and Water
Charity Glaser Highway
Randy Novak Council President
Sheila Matias Commission President
Citizens/Businesses
Bill Nelson Homeowner (Co – Chair)
Diane Warnke Homeowner (Co – Chair)
Scott Keller Homeowner
Mark Swistek Homeowner
Jeremy Smith Business – Bee Keeper
Phil Marshall Indiana DNR (Gypsy Moth Expert)
Jim Pressel Indiana House Representative
Brian Mann Tree Mann Company
Tina Miramontes Homeowner
Spongy Moth (Formerly known as the Gypsy Moth)
Why talk about the Gypsy Moth?
Lodged as a formal complaint by the public, the Gypsy Moth is an invasive species that eats leaves on trees and can cause serious damage over time, resulting in the death of trees. Without intervention, many trees can become damaged and create hazards to the public.
About the Gypsy Moth
Other names: Spongy Moth (Formerly Gypsy moth), Lymantria dispar
Where did it come from?
Gypsy moth was imported from Europe in 1869 by a man hoping to cross them with silk moths.
What do they eat?
Gypsy moth caterpillars primarily feed on oak but will move to other host plants if it runs out of oak leaves.
Why is it invasive?
Caterpillars of this moth have large, periodic outbreaks. They can eat all of the leaves on, and sometimes kill, the trees they feed on.
How do you prevent its spread?
When you travel through gypsy moth infested areas or move to a new place, make sure to inspect everything kept outdoors for egg masses. Buy or cut firewood close to where you’re planning to use it. Gypsy moths will lay their eggs on any surface outdoors.
Once gypsy moths have established in an area, it is impossible to completely eradicate them. Instead, homeowners should focus on keeping their vulnerable trees healthy so they will survive infestations and on keeping gypsy moth populations at management levels.
If you live in an area affected by gypsy moths, keep the following points in mind to boost your morale during the ongoing battle:
- Gypsy moths do not kill trees in one season. It takes 2-3 consecutive years of over 50% defoliation to kill a healthy tree.
- Healthy trees can withstand up to 30% defoliation for several years in a row with few ill effects.
- There are many measures that homeowners can undertake both before and after the arrival of the gypsy moth to lessen its impact.
Gypsy Moth (Sponge Moth)
Damage to Trees
Gypsy Moth Eggs
Suppression Program Time line
August – September
- Announce program to 2023 Suppress Spongy Moth defoliation.
- Request landowner application – develop an application form.
- Compare areas in application to 2022 defoliation.
October – December
- Determine landowners involved in proposed treatment area.
- Define proposed treatment areas and determine acres.
- Evaluate areas for criteria to be in treatment program –
- host,
- egg mass per acre
- unique site features
- safety concerns
- Prepare contract for bid and bid out to applicators
January
- Conduct public meeting to explain proposed treatment.
February
- Receive contract bids, select applicator, and determine application costs.
March
- Update landowners on program status.
April
- Monitor eggmasses for hatch. Usually April 23 +/- a few days.
May
- Treatment begins.
- On average, week of May 9-10, but could be early or late for first application.
- Second application 4-10 days after first application.
June
- Survey treated sites for caterpillars and defoliation.
- DNR conducts aerial survey.