City of Grand Rapids issued the following announcement on Mar 23.
The City of Grand Rapids Forestry division is asking for help from residents in controlling the population of spongy moth (formerly known as “gypsy moth”) to protect the City’s urban tree canopy.
Spongy moth is an invasive species that has been present in Michigan for over 40 years. Spongy moth egg masses can contain over 1000 larvae that hatch into leaf-eating caterpillars. When the caterpillars significantly defoliate trees, the trees become weaker and vulnerable to fatal diseases.
City Forester Dan Coy says there are ways the community can help prevent this.
“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,” Coy said. “The needed tools are common household items, so most people can get started right away.”
Here are the ways residents can help control spongy moth populations in Grand Rapids:
- Now through late April: Look for egg masses on tree trunks and scrape them into a cup of soapy water using a plastic putty knife or other dull scraping tool. Egg masses are light brown, sponge-like in appearance and about the size of a quarter.
- Late April through late May: Wrap a double band of duct tape around tree trunks with the sticky side facing out to prevent hatched caterpillars from moving up the tree to the leaves.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Grand Rapids
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