Landscape Message: Jun 24, 2016

From the Southeast Region (Hanson) report:

Pests/Problems: Gypsy moth caterpillars are large and mostly in 5th & 6th instar (only the females go to a 6th instar, (however, curiously, there have been a few, minor observations of 3rd and 4th instars too). Many of the large late instar caterpillars are beginning to pupate and a few have pupated. However, many more gypsy moth caterpillars remain feeding heavily in many areas and in those areas, the trees are bare, and the caterpillar frass continues to fall covering everything below. Driving along Route 3 in the Plymouth area, especially the stretch near exit 5, the oak trees are stripped of leaves and the caterpillars are also feeding heavily on Pinus rigida (pitch pine). Gypsy moth caterpillars are also feeding on maples, white pine, spruce, apple, willow, crabapple, etc. Some landscape clients were complaining that they had had “their trees sprayed in May for the caterpillars” and were wondering what was going on. “Didn’t the spray work?” It took some careful explaining to make them realize that the there were two caterpillar problems: winter moth caterpillars, which finished feeding in late May, and gypsy moth caterpillars which began feeding in mid-May and continued into late June; two different caterpillars which may necessitate two separate spray applications.