The Winter Moth has been in the news of late, and no doubt will be making a personal appearance soon. If you have noticed white-ish colored moths flying around porch lights in the evening last November and December, then you’ve seen ‘Operophtera brumata’ – Winter Moth.
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| Winter Moth – by Entomart |
The problem with these moths is that their larvae are ravenous feeders on buds and leaf clusters in early spring. Egg hatching begins in early spring, and the tiny caterpillars enter the buds on trees as they begin to swell. Because they’re feeding inside, damage goes unnoticed until the buds and foliage begin to open.
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| Winter Moth eggs – by Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute |
When fruit bud flowers are eaten, there will be no fruit. In deciduous trees, leaf skeletonizing will be very apparent. And these caterpillars feed on a variety of plants, including Blueberry, Apple, Cherry, Crab-apple, Maple, Oak, Basswood, Ash, and White Elm.
Where did they come from?
The Winter Moth is native to Europe. It’s thought to have arrived on imported plant material from Nova Scotia, where it’s been a problem since the 1950s. It arrived in New England in the last decade…that’s the bad news.
The good news is that entomologists, led by Joe Elkinton of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, are in the process of introducing a natural parasite to the Winter Moth. Read more here about this six-year campaign and its results.
We Recommend
Appropriately fertilized and watered trees enable them to withstand adverse conditions, including the Winter Moth pest. Deep-root Fertilization, a method offered by Bradley Tree and Landscape, can give you and your trees the advantage against detrimental environmental conditions with increased vitality. Deep-root fertilization is specifically for trees and applied under specific guidelines. Give us a call or check our website page to find out more.We’re at your service.
 Winter Moth larva – by Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute |
| Keep in mind that healthy, established trees can sustain up to 25 percent leaf loss repeatedly for one or two years. Insecticide/pesticide spraying can have detrimental effects on bees, birds, animals and your own health. However, there are things you can do – check with UNH Cooperative Extension to fully understand your best options. |
Tim Bradley,&nbs
p;Certified Arborist
p;Certified Arborist
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
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