You’ve been vigilant, completed your due diligence, spent money to protect and defend both deciduous and evergreen trees that provide shade and beauty to your property. But you can’t rest on those laurels – the fight continues against the mighty moth.
Thanks to the Mattapoisett Tree Committee, the Tri-Town populace has been provided with information on how to try and protect trees against the 2015/2016 Canadian moth mating season. If you have driven down North Street in Mattapoisett, you’ve seen a number of trees that have been “banded” in an effort to capture and kills mating moths.
During an interview with Mattapoisett Tree Committee member Debra Smiley, she shared information on best practices and processes moving forward in what will now be a yearly fight against moth infestations.
Smiley said the Tree Committee has posted a video clip on their Facebook page demonstrating how to remove the banding.
“The bands have served their purpose,” Smiley explained, by capturing moths in the mating season. By mid-January, the Canadian moth-mating season has ended.
She continued, “The next generation eggs have been deposited all over the place. The bands need to come off so the trees can dry out. If left in place, they may promote disease and bark damage.” Smiley warned, “Let the tree recover from the banding.”
Smiley said egg masses have been deposited in the crevices of the trees and behind lichens. At this point, the eggs are an orange color. In early spring, the eggs change color to a shade of dark blue. The color change indicates the eggs are about to hatch.
“In early spring, March, after a series of 45-degree days, you can apply dormant oil,” Smiley suggested. She said the oil smothers the emerging caterpillars. Again, she warned against spraying too soon describing it as a “waste of product and time.” She also advised not to spray trees now because of the possibility of damaging the bark during extreme cold weather.
Smiley said the Tree Committee will continue to monitor University of Massachusetts extension information and other sources to provide the community with the most up-to-date details. However, after all is said and done, the moths can only be controlled – not completely annihilated.
In 2004, Southeastern Massachusetts began to experience the winter moth invasion. But it wasn’t until last year – a year that found the region also fighting a gypsy moth outbreak – that trees really began to show signs of severe distress.
“I understand that if the trees have fifty percent defoliation over a four or five year period, that tree won’t make it,” Smiley said sadly. “The best you can do is give the trees a chance,” she then added with a trace of hope in her voice.
And what does the future hold?
“This is an annual event,” said Smiley. “You have Halloween, Thanksgiving, and then Tree Banding,” she said with a chuckle.
For more information and to stay abreast of the latest information published by the Mattapoisett Tree Committee, you may visit their Facebook page or go to www.mattapoisett.net and visit their webpages on the Town’s web site.
By Marilou Newell