SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Agriculture will hold open house event to explain plans to treat parts of the state for the destructive Spongy Moth, a non-native tree pest. Large populations of the moth are capable of stripping plants bare, leaving them susceptible to disease. Severe or repeated defoliation can cause tree death. Unlike the Emerald Ash Borer, another non-native pest which feeds exclusively on ash trees, the Spongy Moth is not a picky eater, its caterpillars will devour almost anything leafy and green. In late June, airplanes will apply a mating disruption, a Spongy Moth-specific pheromone that acts as a sexual attractant and prevents male Spongy Moths from finding females to breed. For details on these meetings visit SlowTheSpread.org
