Spongy Moth Primer
Download our Spongy Moth Primer for a complete overview of spongy moth.
The spongy moth is one of the most destructive forest pests introduced into the United States. It has defoliated millions of acres in the Eastern United States where spongy moth populations have become established.
The spongy moth caterpillars can eat the leaves of over 300 species of trees and shrubs. They prefer broad-leaf deciduous trees, but can also defoliate evergreen trees. Defoliation usually does not kill deciduous trees directly, but the added stress makes the trees susceptible to other pests that may cause death. Evergreen trees have a harder time recovering from defoliation and therefore, are likely to die in direct result of one year of defoliation. Weakening and killing trees results in destruction of wildlife habitat, degrades water quality of creeks and streams, and reduces the use and aesthetic value of recreation areas.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has prevented the spongy moth from gaining a foothold in our state since 1974. Use the links below to learn more about the spongy moth and the threat it poses to the environment.
The spongy moth caterpillars can eat the leaves of over 300 species of trees and shrubs. They prefer broad-leaf deciduous trees, but can also defoliate evergreen trees. Defoliation usually does not kill deciduous trees directly, but the added stress makes the trees susceptible to other pests that may cause death. Evergreen trees have a harder time recovering from defoliation and therefore, are likely to die in direct result of one year of defoliation. Weakening and killing trees results in destruction of wildlife habitat, degrades water quality of creeks and streams, and reduces the use and aesthetic value of recreation areas.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has prevented the spongy moth from gaining a foothold in our state since 1974. Use the links below to learn more about the spongy moth and the threat it poses to the environment.
13 Reasons Infographic
Why is the spongy moth bad news? We'll give you 13 reasons to start!
Flighted spongy moth
While spongy moths (Lymantria dispar dispar) are extremely destructive, flighted spongy moths (Lymantria dispar asiatica) pose an even greater threat to the environment.
Spongy moth FAQs
Get the answers to our most frequently asked questions about spongy moths.
Identification
Find out what a spongy moth adult, caterpillar, or egg mass looks like and see some common native imposters.
Videos
Prefer to watch? We have several videos that you can view to learn more about spongy moths and the damage they cause, as well as more information about our program.
Spongy moth blogs
We have several blogs about spongy moth on our agency blog. However, we've pulled them all into one place for you here.
