Latest news with #defoliation
CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
Outbreak of forest tent caterpillars should last about 6 weeks
Experts say that in northeastern Ontario, the outbreak of forest tent caterpillars this year should last about six weeks. They're creepy, they're crawly and they seem to be everywhere. Forest tent caterpillars are cropping up in large numbers across northeastern Ontario. Experts say we're in an outbreak. 'It's not as severe as it has been in the past,' said Dan Rowlinson, the provincial forest health field coordinator with the Ministry of Natural Resources. Caterpillar1 They're creepy, they're crawly and they seem to be everywhere. Forest tent caterpillars are cropping up in large numbers across northeastern Ontario. (File) 'They're just in the tiny larval stage right now. So, they're just starting to feed on the aspen and the poplar trees. But they'll proceed through the summer and then we'll see more defoliation. I don't think it's going to be as significant as it was last year.' MNR monitoring shows eastern tent caterpillars are a problem, but Rowlinson said they're not as widespread as the forest tent species, also known as armyworms. Those are the ones experiencing the population boom. 'We're looking at about six weeks,' said Alexandra Binns, Science North's animal care technician, who said the area is on the upswing of a 10-year cycle. The last big outbreak was in 2018. 'Mice, rodents, but also birds and migratory birds, it's a quick and easy meal for them. And so as much as we might hate them, they are important to the environment.' — David Dutkiewicz, Invasive Species Centre 'Generally, once the young caterpillars emerge in early springtime, they can only really eat soft or freshly grown leaves,' Binns said. 'Because they can only eat those things, they eat them for about six weeks. That's the fresh start of spring. And then they'll start to cocoon and pupate from there.' Later in the summer, these pests will transform into moths. Caterpillar2 They're creepy, they're crawly and they seem to be everywhere. Forest tent caterpillars are cropping up in large numbers across northeastern Ontario. (Photo from video) Despite their annoyance, experts agree that forest tent caterpillars are important to the ecological landscape. 'They are more nutrients for birds and things like that,' said David Dutkiewicz, an entomology technician with the Invasive Species Centre. 'Mice, rodents, but also birds and migratory birds, it's a quick and easy meal for them. And so as much as we might hate them, they are important to the environment.' Dutkiewicz said picking the forest tent caterpillars off trees and other greenery or wrapping tinfoil around the base of the tree. He said spraying them with soapy water will also work, but doing it too often could harm the tree's protective wax coating. In case children pick one up or they fall from trees onto unsuspecting folks below, it's important to remember the caterpillars aren't harmful to humans, unless there is an allergy to the critters' hairs. Mostly, they're just annoying and gross.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
DCNR aerial spraying targets fall cankerworm in Somerset County
(WTAJ) — Aerial spraying is set to begin in parts of Somerset County to stop an outbreak of fall cankerworms, a native but destructive pest threatening already stressed forests in western Pennsylvania. The treatment, led by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), will take place around the same time as the larger, statewide aerial spray campaign to suppress spongy moth populations across 13 counties. While much of the focus remains on the spongy moth, DCNR will also treat forest areas in Somerset, Fayette and Westmoreland counties for the fall cankerworm (FCW), an inchworm-like caterpillar that feeds on the leaves of hardwood trees. The repeated defoliation by FCWs, especially when combined with recent drought and pest pressures, has weakened many trees in these regions. Fall cankerworms typically emerge in late fall and early spring. The caterpillars feed heavily on leaves, particularly from oak, elm and maple trees, stripping them of their foliage and weakening the trees over time. Repeated infestations can severely stress forests and delay recovery from other environmental impacts. The DCNR's ariel suppression campaign for spongy moths defoliated nearly 600,000 acres in 2024. Officials say the decline in acreage to be treated this year, just under 75,000 acres, shows progress, though hotspots remain. The spongy moth spraying will cover 65 sites across 5 state forests and 7 state parks, including areas in Lycoming, Dauphin, Pike, and Clinton counties. The Pennsylvania Game Commission will treat another 38,000 acres on State Game Lands. Both suppression efforts will use targeted insecticides safe for other wildlife and will be applied by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Spray zones for the FCW treatment in Somerset County and spongy moth suppression elsewhere can be viewed on DCNR's interactive map. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. For more information about forest health and aerial spray programs, visit DCNR's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ -
