Winter Moth
Winter moth larvae hatch and feed ravenously on leaves and fruit beginning in early spring. Larvae feed on the inside of buds and leaf clusters during the day, inching their way to the outside of leaves at night. In June, larvae drop to the ground under the trees where they bury themselves in the soil until fall. November through January, adults come out and mate. Having no wings, females have a grueling climb up tree trunks where they lay eggs.
NOTE: Wet summers combined with mild & moist autumns make for favorable conditions to increased winter moth populations.
Winter Moths like to especially go after ornamental, orchard and forest trees like oaks and maples.
Contact your local County Extension Agent or Master Gardener to get ideas on controlling Winter Moths. You may find an adequate answer at your local garden center as well. Additionally, There are parasitic flies that trick winter moths into eating their eggs by placing them near recently munched on leaves. As the egg hatches inside the winter moth, it literally eats the moth inside out. |