State intends to spray Spongy Moth treatment over Haywood, Jackson
The presence of a devastating invasive moth has been detected in Haywood County. File photo
Residents of western Haywood County and eastern Jackson County will have the chance to learn about the Spongy Moth infestation that has hit several areas of the region, as well as what the N.C. Department of Agriculture plans on doing about the problem.
The public information session, to be held Feb. 18 at Haywood Community College, will allow officials the chance to review the treatment plan for the infestation while also hearing feedback from members of the public.
As of now, there are three proposed treatment blocks totaling 5,990 acres located in Haywood and Jackson counties. The westernmost corner of the area is just north of mile marker 447 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the easternmost corner is one mile east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 23 and Sylvan Street. A portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway between mile markers between 445 and 447 lies inside this block.
There are approximately 2,560 commercial or residential lots within one mile of the block. Although the planes will fly low over the entire treatment area, they will only be spraying over large wooded areas.
In 2023, officials caught a total of 13 male moths in these blocks. In 2024, that number increased to 2,627. One application of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, a proven, safe treatment method, is proposed for these blocks.
In March 2023 when a similar treatment was planned for the Cruso area in eastern Haywood County, members of the public voiced concerns over property rights and the lack of ability to opt out of the aerial treatment. However, in a Smoky Mountain News story from that time, NCDA Administrator Joy Goforth said that without the treatment, these invasive creatures will continue to reproduce and gain a stronghold in certain areas.
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“Spongy moth infestations alter the ecology of an area by reducing habitat, increasing erosion and other factors,” Goforth said at that time. “In addition, establishment of this pest will have grave impact financially on the local forestry and nursery industries and can impact tourism and property values.”
First described by Swedish taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1758, the moth’s Latin name, lymantria dispar, means “unequal destroyer.” Unequal refers to the size difference between males and females, and destroyer alludes to its devastating effect on more than 300 species of plants and trees. The moths can extend their range by as much as 13 miles a year.
The NCDA began to take note of the problem in Haywood County around 2019, through a trapping program meant to assess both the existence and the size of local populations. Relentless, the spongy moths are eventually expected to overtake all of Western North Carolina by 2045, but a number of treatments are available.
Female spongy moths are flightless. They attract mates by releasing a pheromone that helps males detect their location. Once that happens, the females lay an egg mass, usually in trees. The egg mass can produce anywhere from 100 to 1,000 caterpillars.
One caterpillar can eat 1 square-foot of foliage per day, and they especially like oaks, which are plentiful in most of Southern Appalachia.
In heavily infested areas, caterpillars may crawl on driveways, sidewalks, outdoor furniture, into homes or end up in swimming pools. North Carolina Department of Agriculture photo
When they emerge from the egg mass en masse, the caterpillars can swarm, leaving behind prolific amounts of feces and endangering people and pets with the hairs on their backs, which are an irritant.
The impact of a spongy moth infestation varies year to year. The direct impact of spongy moth defoliation ranges from barely noticeable to devastating, depending upon population density, tree health and weather conditions.
For hardwood species such as oak, mortality of trees in fair or poor health or those stressed by drought or frost can occur after two consecutive years of defoliation. Trees that are in good condition will grow new leaves later in the season, but they use food reserves that were intended for the next season.
The most dangerous effect of spongy moth defoliation is an increase in tree susceptibility to secondary pests such as wood boring beetles and fungi. Older spongy moth larvae may attack conifer species, such as pines, resulting in tree mortality after just one year of defoliation. The economic burden of a severe spongy moth defoliation can be great when homeowners are faced with a number of large, dead yard trees that must be removed. Likewise, timberland owners may be faced with a reduction in timber value as valuable hardwoods are killed. The loss of large trees also contributes to erosion, which can impact water quality.
The spongy moth can also be a nuisance to the general public. In heavily infested areas, caterpillars may crawl on driveways, sidewalks, outdoor furniture, into homes, or end up in swimming pools. In parks and recreation areas, defoliation may affect the aesthetics of the surroundings.
The NCDA began the Slow the Spread program in 1992 with a goal of demonstrating that the rate at which spongy moths colonize new areas can be reduced. According to the NCDA, the project uses techniques that are both environmentally safe and cost effective.
“North Carolina is defined in many ways by its lush tree canopy and green natural resources,” Goforth said in the previous SMN story. “Through the Slow the Spread efforts, including targeted treatments where the spongy moth population is on the rise, we hope we can prevent damage to our forests. Western North Carolina won’t look like Western North Carolina if we continue to lose trees and tree canopy to pests. And that would be a shame.”
Want to learn more?
The public is invited to an information session on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Haywood Community College in the Main Hemlock Building Lobby. The purpose of the session is to permit NCDA&CS staff to provide information on a spongy moth infestation that has been detected in Western North Carolina, review treatment alternatives for the infestation and receive information from the public. The session format will provide adequate time for questions and public comments.
Anyone who’s unable to attend the session and would like additional information on this spongy moth infestation can contact the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division at 800.206.9333 or 919.707.3730. Resources are also online at ncagr.gov/proposed-spongy-moth-management.
