DATCP Publishes 2022 Spongy Moth Treatment Plan

Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 -- 8:08 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture has published its 2022 spongy moth treatment plan.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, formerly known as the gypsy moth program, low-flying planes will spray select areas in western Wisconsin through July to treat outlier populations of the moths.

Spongy moth is a non-native insect with a destructive appetite for hundreds of species of trees and shrubs. Treatment efforts help limit the spread of this pest that is established in the eastern two-thirds of the state.

"This invasive pest is a serious threat to our forests and urban trees. It has the potential to negatively impact Wisconsin's timber, paper, nursery, and tourism industries," said Program Coordinator Christopher Foelker. A total of about 163,500 acres at 57 sites in 17 counties are scheduled for treatment.

The affected counties on the spraying schedule include Bayfield, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, La Crosse, Lafayette, Pepin, Rusk, Sawyer, Trempealeau, Vernon, and Washburn.

For more information, DATCP has set up a toll-free hotline at 800- 642-MOTH.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.