Spongy Moths

When spongy moths hatch, they start out as black and hairy caterpillars. Over time, they turn yellowish-gray with tufts and rows of blue and red spots along their backs, growing to be about 2-2.5 inches long. After becoming adults, the females grow to have a wingspan of around 2.5 inches, while the males stay slightly smaller, measuring under 2 inches. Interestingly, the females do not fly, while the males do.

 

Spongy moths lay egg masses that can contain anywhere from 500-1,500 eggs. These masses are laid on tree trunks and overwinter to hatch in the spring. Young larvae are buoyant and able to travel up to five miles a day on the wind. The larvae feed heavily on tree leaves, pupating in late summer. Once emerged, the males will travel to find the females, as the females are flightless and have a very small range of travel once reaching adulthood.

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Spongy moths feed on the leaves of trees and bushes, being capable of eating up to a square foot of leaves in a single day.  Because of this, the potential for destruction due to defoliation is huge.  It's important to keep on top of any infestation to protect your yard and vegetation. Be careful not to touch them directly, both the caterpillars and the moths can leave you with a painful, stinging rash.

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Learn more about spongy moths in our blog post