by Meg Porter
5/27/2011

Are your car and lawn furniture covered with what looks like poppy seeds? Well, hold on to your hats because winter moth is devastating deciduous trees in our town and surrounding communities with a vengence.

Although we have been warned by the professional arborists, UMass Extension and The Department of Conservation and Recreation that winter moth is here  in Massachusetts, people seem to be noticing the small green worms, their poppy seed like poop and the damage to deciduous trees everywhere you look.

The image (shown above) shows the caterpillar at an older age, their refuse and damage.

When I realized that the caterpillar was in our yard, I immediately called Rolf Briggs at Tree Specialists in Holliston. Tree Specialists had graciously treated the trees at The Holliston Historical Society for winter moth as part of their annual Arbor Day contribution. The results were immediate. Rolf shared some pretty scary facts about these destructive critters. It is important that we all take notice and do all that we can to treat and save our trees.

Rolf Briggs (shown above) shows the damage that this insect causes to deciduous trees.

Trees that may succumb to heavy defoliation by winter moth caterpilliars will be severely stressed. Trees must put out a second flush of growth in order to survive.

Many Massachusetts communities have reported millions of moths around Thanksgiving through December. In spring, these same communities witnessed an alarming number of small green caterpliiars defoliating maples, oaks and other deciduous trees.

"Winter moth is at its heaviest numbers east of Route 495, on the North and South Shores, including Martha's Vineyard and most of Cape Cod, as well as towns in and around Boston."