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| Pests
by Type Pests by Pest Name Pest-Related Diseases Pest Alerts Pest Facts Index IPM Pesticide Bureau |
Winter Moth Caterpillar
During the past several years, populations of native caterpillar pests such as cankerworm, gypsy, forest tent, eastern tent and the newly discovered Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) have exploded causing serious defoliation of trees and puzzling experts. The Winter Moth is an introduced pest from England and as such has no natural biological controls here to limit it population density. With no natural controls at this time (research is anticipated to establish natural controls in the near future), applications of pesticides are the only meaningful remedy to protect trees from defoliation. Those trees that have been defoliated in the past several years may not be able to withstand further defoliation if not protected. To learn more about the winter moth visit the following links & websites. UMass Extension- 2006 Winter moth UPDATE NEW!!! UMass Extension- Identification, Life Cycles & Management MDAR's 2005 Winter moth Pest Alert Page Mass Introduced Pest Outreach Page- Winter moth information UMass Winter Moth Projecthttp://www.umassgreeninfo.org/news_events.html Umass Winter moth overview (.pdf) http://www.umassgreeninfo.org/fact_sheets/defoliators/wm_update_05.pdf Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project (good images) http://massnrc.org/pests/pestFAQsheets/winter%20moth.html Invasives.org http://www.invasive.org/browse/subject.cfm?sub=8671 Caterpillar Contacts: Robert D. Childs, Entomologist, Umass Extension Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry Program, Amherst 413-545-1053 rchilds@psis.umass.edu Deborah C. Swanson, Plymouth County Extension and Umass Extension Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry Program 781-293-3541 Charles M. Burnham, Program Supervisor, Forest Health Program, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation 413-256-1601 charlie.burnham@state.ma.us |
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