Oak Defoliation and Gypsy Moths
by Pete Zoschg, Forester
Last year gypsy moth egg mass surveys indicated that the number of gypsy moths had increased, as they have over the past several years. This year, oaks, their preferred food source, were widely defoliated, suffering from a poorly-timed frost throughout the area. Some were further defoliated by gypsy moths, putting large sections of forest under stress before several factors this summer seem to have reversed the gypsy moth’s gains in the area.
(Full story in the Cameron County Echo on the news stand)