Latest news with #Bacillusthuringiensis
Chicago Tribune
25-05-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Why are my hydrangea leaves curling up?
I checked with the Chicago Botanic Garden's Plant Health Care supervisor, who has seen this same problem in some of the Garden's hydrangeas this spring. Your description fits the damage we see from the hydrangea leaf-tier moth () that attacks several hydrangea species but prefers Annabelle and Incrediball® hydrangeas. Hydrangea leaf-tiers are small moths that are active now and whose larvae sew leaves at the end of stems together with a silk thread. Once protected inside the enclosed leaf, they feed on the leaves and flower heads. These leaf enclosures become puckered and are easy to notice. They are generally located toward the top of the plant. By pulling apart the leaves, you can find the slender green caterpillar that is up to ½-inch long with a blackish head, which will verify the problem. This insect emerges from the soil in spring as a small, brown and white moth that you might not notice in your garden. The moths lay eggs on the branch tips of hydrangeas and the hatching caterpillars cause the damage you see in your garden. The larvae drop to the ground to pupate in summer and emerge as adults the following spring. I do not usually try to control this insect, as the damage is minor and mostly cosmetic, even though the damage can be obvious when populations are high. You can carefully open the leaf pouches and smash the caterpillars inside and/or remove and destroy any leaf masses that you find. Try very carefully squishing the caterpillars without opening the pouches to save some time. Treating with an organic product that contains Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki is another option, but you must apply it so that the product gets inside the cupped leaves. As a last resort, consider using a pyrethroid insecticide to kill the caterpillars, but that needs to be applied directly on the caterpillars for it to work properly. Bottom line, this is not much to worry about.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Carlton County is ground zero for spongy moths
May 23—CARLTON COUNTY — As spongy moths, an invasive species that defoliates forests, continue their westward pursuit, Carlton County has become ground zero in Minnesota's effort to scale back the infestation. Having already infested Lake and Cook counties, the invasive moth, formerly known as gypsy moth, is now gaining a foothold in parts of St. Louis and Carlton counties. To combat this, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture plans roughly half of this year's spongy moth treatments in Carlton County. "When you look at that kind of population front, it's a lot farther advanced in the north," said Mark Abrahamson, a plant protection specialist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. This summer, the MDA plans to aerially treat 12 different areas within Carlton County, totaling about 27,000 acres, using a pheromone to attract and trap male moths to disrupt their mating. A spring treatment using Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki — or Btk, a bacterium that kills the moth's caterpillars — also was scheduled for around 800 acres in Carlton County, but that was canceled after the MDA did not receive the necessary federal funds for the treatment in time. The spongy moth is monitored and controlled through a national Slow the Spread Program — a partnership between the MDA, U.S. Forest Service and 11 states. In Minnesota, the program has been used to manage 1.1 million acres. The program estimates it has slowed the spread of spongy moths by more than 60%. Though Abrahamson said there is no way to eradicate the spongy moth, programs like this can significantly slow the spread. "Without this program, which has been in place for several decades now, it would have been ... pretty much throughout Minnesota, we would just be living with it," Abrahamson said. Abrahamson said about 75% of the state funding to treat the spongy moth comes from the federal government. Though the MDA is planning its summer treatments, it is a possibility that funding will be pulled again. "There's always the possibility that something unexpected could occur as well. So we'll be, you know, prepared if that's the case, but we're optimistic that we should be able to move forward," Abrahamson said. Abrahamson believes the canceled spring treatments won't drastically affect Carlton County's spongy moth population. The moths are already established to a point where Btk would not be as effective as mating disruption, which is more effective among established populations. "By this summer, we wouldn't expect that people are going to really be noticing a lot," Abrahamson said. Originally hailing from Europe, the spongy moth first came to North America from Massachusetts in the 1860s as part of a failed science experiment to breed silk-spinning caterpillars, according to Mass Audubon, a New England-based conservation organization. The caterpillars escaped to the scientists' backyard and began their westward conquest from there. The moth's population has proliferated in the northern parts of the country. Though the reasons are not entirely known, Abrahamson theorizes it could be because the larvae, which move on a silken thread, can travel across lakes great distances.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Invasive Spongy Moth program slows spread in Wisconsin by 87%, new spraying efforts start this month
(WFRV) – Starting this month, residents in parts of Wisconsin may notice low-flying planes early in the morning. These planes are part of a state effort to stop the spread of the invasive spongy moth. According to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), planes will be spraying areas in Buffalo, Grant and Pepin counties as part of a national program called 'Slow the Spread of the Spongy Moth.' The program is designed to prevent the moth from moving into new areas. The DATCP says the spraying will happen in May and early June, depending on the weather and the development of the moths. Planes will begin flying at sunrise and continue until the job is done or weather forces a stop. Tomatoes sold in Wisconsin, other states recalled due to possible salmonella contamination Images courtesy of The Animal and Plant Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture The spread of spongy moth has slowed by 87%, according to the DATCP, over the past two decades thanks to the national program. However, delays in federal funding mean that Wisconsin will spray fewer areas this year, down from five counties to three. The release says spongy moth caterpillars can seriously damage trees by eating their leaves, which can lead to tree death and lower property value. The caterpillars also shed bristly skins that can irritate people's skin, eyes, and breathing. Michael Falk, who leads DATCP's Forest Pest Survey and Control Unit, said the moths spread easily by hitching rides on vehicles, firewood, and outdoor equipment, especially during outbreaks. Our 2025 treatment plan aims to prevent newly established populations from gaining a foothold in un-infested regions of western Wisconsin and to reduce future negative impact to our timber, nursery, and tourism industries. Michael Falk, Forest Pest Survey and Control Unit Supervisor at DATCP Green Bay Botanical Garden unveils animal sculptures made from trash & debris found in the Pacific Ocean To stop the caterpillars, the DATCP says the small yellow planes will spray a natural bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) on tree canopies. Btk is safe for people, pets, bees and other animals and breaks down within days. However, the DATCP highlights people with severe allergies may want to stay indoors while spraying is underway. For more information or treatment plans, you can sign up for email updates, call the toll-free Spongy Moth Hotline 800-624-MOTH, or emailing questions to spongymoth@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
