Winter moth caterpillars in Massachusetts will soon be emerging, ready to feed on our trees.

These caterpillars can quickly cause devastating damage to maple, oak, and apple trees, among many others. If you notice your foliage looking sad, the culprit could be the winter moth caterpillar.

Winter moths are non-native and were first identified in Massachusetts in 2003. Originally introduced to North America from Europe in the 1930’s, winter moths moved from eastern to western Canada and eventually to Washington state and Oregon, but were unknown in any other U.S. state until they were found here.

Fun fact: female adult winter moths are virtually wingless and cannot fly. The males have full wings and are the moths you see congregating around outdoor lighting. Males will also gather in clouds around a female that is releasing mating pheromones.

The female adult winter moth lays her 150-350 eggs on or under tree bark and lichen. The adult moths die, and the eggs overwinter until temperatures are right for hatching. Newly hatched caterpillars climb up the tree to begin feeding on buds, damaging leaves even before they fully open. The damage caused can put stress on trees, leaving them vulnerable to further damage and even eventually killing branches or entire trees. Weak, damaged, or dead trees are not only unsightly, they can cause property damage.

To stop caterpillars from making a meal of your trees, give them some releaf and call Burgess Pest for a  free estimate for treatment. There is a very narrow window of time in which these treatments can be effectively performed, so it is important to contact us as soon as possible. Call, email, or fill out a form for more information.