Posted: October 28, 2022

PA Tree Farmers weigh certification vs. recognition; the battle against spongy moth continues.

Significant spongy moth defoliation occurred in several parts of Pennsylvania this year. (Photo credit: James Altemus)

Significant spongy moth defoliation occurred in several parts of Pennsylvania this year. (Photo credit: James Altemus)

Certification versus Recognition

If you are a certified Tree Farmer, you recently received a letter asking your opinion on Pennsylvania remaining a certification state or shifting to a recognition state. If you’ve not already responded to the survey, please do so as soon as you can. If you’re a certified Tree Farmer and don’t remember getting the letter, please contact the Pennsylvania Forestry Association office at 1-800-835-8065. We will be making a decision on Pennsylvania’s near future with Tree Farm this month.

Battle Against Spongy Moth Continues

In May of this year, I noticed some very small larvae collecting on seedlings being planted on my Centre County tree farm. At first it was difficult to identify them, but it didn’t take long to recognize them as spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth) caterpillars. I had noticed very few egg masses in my forested areas and had not been overly concerned about this pest. These had blown in on a silk thread from some distant location and ended up defoliating not only the seedlings, but also the oaks and many other hardwoods nearby, except on a neighboring property that had been aerial sprayed with a chemical called Mimic 2LV. I saved many of my seedlings from total defoliation using pesticide in a handheld sprayer. Both spraying efforts were effective. Unsprayed trees had a “winter like” appearance, although later many grew new leaves. Unfortunately, there is evidence that some of the larger hardwood trees, especially those lacking leaves in the crown, may not survive. A second defoliation next year will result in even higher tree mortality. While the state has a spray program on state lands, landowners like me have to figure out how to go it alone. The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) provides information, including locations of egg masses and locations where spraying was completed earlier this year, at Lymantria Dispar Dispar (Spongy Moth).

In past years, moth damage was proportional to the quantity of nearby tan egg masses. Now those are visible on my trees and other locations. So next year, some decisions will be needed. If spring weather conditions are damp, a fungus may devastate the population. One limited control method is to scrape any visible egg masses and soak them in soapy water. While this is insignificant considering the magnitude of the problem, it might make you feel better knowing you eliminated nearly 600 spongy moth larvae per egg mass. Read more at extension.psu.edu/spongy-moth-summer-2022-update.

For more information about the PA Tree Farm program, visit PA Tree Farm.

Written by John Hoover, PA Tree Farm Committee Chair

James C. Finley Center for Private Forests

Address

416 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802

James C. Finley Center for Private Forests

Address

416 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802