Spongy moth is an invasive species that has been in the state for over 40 years. | City of Grand Rapids press release
Spongy moth is an invasive species that has been in the state for over 40 years. | City of Grand Rapids press release
Residents of the City of Grand Rapids are being asked by the forestry division for help in mitigating spongy moths (also known as “gypsy moth”) in order to safeguard the city’s urban tree canopy.
According to a news release by the city, spongy moth was an undesirable species that has been in the state for over 40 years and its egg masses can have over 1000 larvae that “hatch into leaf-eating caterpillars” making trees weaker and susceptible to fatal diseases.
“We do our best to target and treat the most densely populated areas of spongy moth but rely on community members to help with the rest,” said City Forester Dan Coy. “The needed tools are common household items, so most people can get started right away.”
If you wish to help, the city states that you should examine trees for egg masses on its tree trunks and scratch them off with a dull object such as a plastic putty knife and put them into a cup of lathered water.
The city reports that egg masses are typically light brown with a sponge-like exterior roughly the size of a quarter and from late April into May people can wrap duct tape over tree trunks “with the sticky side facing out to prevent hatched caterpillars from moving up the tree to the leaves.”
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