I recall a statement from the WI DNR about Gypsy Moths earlier this spring, but I believe it was about aerial spraying to control them. Does MI have a similar program?

Drove thru Lynchburg, VA in the 1990s in June & almost every tree was denuded (some species were left alone) for prb'ly 10 miles. Gypsy moths have been absent from this area since I moved here in 2004 -- there were a very few present then and those were infected by the purposely-introduced fungus -- fungus threads growing out of them in a ghastly way. None since.

This song might help.

https://youtu.be/bI3QVsW30j0

One very strange thing I saw recently along a major highway were completely denuded Siberian elms -- dozens of them. But no other tree was affected. I have to assume MD road dept is poisoning them like they did ailanthus.

Gypsy moth numbers have been increasing here the last couple years, and areas of defoliation were expected in southeast Michigan this year. The generally dry weather in May and early June probably kept the diseases from having a significant impact. A few counties and local communities did have aerial spray programs, but some privately owned woodlots in the area have been hit hard. Hopefully this won't happen again next year - even healthy trees can be killed after repeated years of defoliation.

beng - yes, I had that song in mind. That's interesting about the Siberian elms along your highway. It wouldn't hurt to do the same on some of the Siberian elms around here ;)

My previous home (1985-2009) had roughly 40-acres of predominantly oak woods The DNR was concerned enough about the threat they funded aerial spraying of this naturally occurring soil bacteria product. It seemed to work and I don‘t remember ever seeing any damage.

arbordave, do you ever hear THIS sound? This time of year I hear it every day and yet I've never seen the bird. This cuckoo is know to eat caterpillars, assuming they make it up your way they are having a feast.

Can't say I've heard them (yellow billed cuckoos) but I assume they are around, especially with the recent abundant food supply. I'll have to pay more attention to bird songs when I'm out in the woods. As I recall, one of the local bird watchers used to see the less common black billed cuckoo in the area as well. I've also heard that orioles will sometimes eat gypsy moth caterpillars.

The gypsy moth cats are mostly done feeding now, and some of the oaks have begun to push out new leaves. The good news is that there appears to be a relatively high proportion of the late instar caterpillars that have been killed by diseases.

sam_md -- thanks! I've wondered for years what bird made that call. Hear it fairly commonly here (not in the winter), but never able to spot the singer.

We had some really bad defoliation back in the early 80’s and again in the late 90’s but nothing recent. it seems to go in cycles here, but it might be related to weather or to diseases and preditors.