Invasive moths eating through northeastern forests may have Missouri in their sights
It's a matter of when, not if the destructive insects find their way to Missouri's forests, conservationists said. Spongy moth caterpillars, a species of which are known to defoliate deciduous trees and attack pines in Missouri forests, may be in the state by 2030. The invasive insects were introduced to the US in 1869 in an attempt to breed silkworms, but escaped the lab and began spreading to forests. They have yet to be found in Missouri, but the neighboring states of Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Tennessee have reported infestations. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has warned that it is challenging to control these pests and that controlling them will be difficult due to their extensive habitat in Missouri. Despite no infestationations in Missouri yet, conservationists are urging the public to report any signs of signs of an established population.
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It's a matter of when, not if the destructive insects find their way to Missouri's forests, conservationists said.
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Insects like the hemlock woolly adelgid, the emerald ash borer, the Japanese beetle, and the spotted lanternfly are all putting millions of trees at risk. Another pest is making an even bigger name for itself, and may have Missouri in its sights.
Spongy moth caterpillars are very hungry and very invasive. The bugs eat tree leaves to the point of leaving them bare, also known as "defoliation."
"The larvae of this species will defoliate many deciduous trees and even attack pines," the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) said on its website. "Because the larvae particularly like to eat oak leaves, our Missouri forests, with their abundance of oaks, could be hard hit."
Spongy moths were accidentally introduced to the U.S. in 1869 in an attempt to breed hardier silkworms but escaped the lab they were in and began spreading to forests, according to the Forest Service's 'Slow the Spread' spongy moth program.
The bugs have yet to be found in Missouri, but the neighboring states of Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Tennessee have all recorded infestations. Because of this, the insects' arrival in Missouri is a matter of when, not if. MDC estimates the moth will hit the state by 2030.
"Given their presence in neighboring states, their ability to spread as egg masses, and the extensive habitat for them in Missouri, it probably is just a matter of time before they get established," an MDC spokesperson told 5 On Your Side. "Like many invasive pests, it is challenging to control their spread and only gets harder as their range grows."
Spongy moth caterpillars can be identified by their blue-black, hairy body with pairs of blue and red bumps down their back, according to Purdue University.
Their egg masses are rusty to pale brown in color, roughly oval-shaped and covered in hairs. A single egg mass can hatch anywhere from 500 to 1,000 eggs, according to Purdue University. The egg masses can be found on house siding, tires, and even firewood.
Even though no spongy moth infestations have been confirmed in Missouri, conservationists ask the public to learn what the eggs and caterpillars look like and report any signs to MDC.
"Our community forester feels that an established population in Missouri is probably still a way off as there will likely be an aggressive approach to elimination once found," the MDC spokesperson said. "With continued monitoring efforts, they’d unlikely stay hidden for long...meaning that it wouldn't have a long time to spread to an unreasonable population size to control."