How To Protect Your Trees From The Spongy Moth

Image credit:

City of Madison

I wanted to let you know that in the coming days, residents in the Westmorland neighborhood will be receiving a mailer about how to remove spongy moth egg masses from trees.  

Why is the city sending this mailing out now? 

The Parks Division treated egg masses with a horticultural oil in Westmorland Park recently.  The concentration of egg masses found in the park was enough that the Forestry/Engineering/Parks team that coordinates the spongy moth response felt it was worth sending out these flyers to the surrounding homeowners so they can check the trees around their home for the masses, too, and destroy them if possible.  Regarding the oiling in Westmorland, this is the same thing Urban Forestry crews have been doing on terrace trees further west near Garner Park throughout the winter months.  I posted information about this back in December.

Further information about the spongy moth can be found on the city’s spongy moth page at www.cityofmadison.com/SpongyMoth. This page is a clearinghouse for spongy moth information and the city's response to this problem.  

If you have any questions about the spongy moth, or other urban forestry questions, feel free to reach out to forestry@cityofmadison.com or call 608-266-4816

Image credit:

City of Madison